Roman Starovoit, Russia’s former transport minister and longtime regional governor, was found dead in his car Monday with a gunshot wound—just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his cabinet. Authorities say preliminary evidence points to suicide.
The Kremlin’s official decree announcing Starovoit’s removal gave no explanation for the decision. A spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, cited by the state-run TASS news agency, confirmed Starovoit was found in the Odintsovo district outside Moscow and that investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
“Today, in the Odintsovo district, Roman Vladimirovich Starovoit was found in his car with a gunshot wound,” the spokesperson said. “Preliminary findings suggest he took his own life.”
Who Was Roman Starovoit?
A close political ally of President Putin, Starovoit was appointed transport minister in May 2024, shortly after Putin secured another six-year term. Before that, he served nearly five years as governor of the Kursk region.
His governorship came under criticism last year after a surprise Ukrainian incursion into Kursk territory in August 2024. Russian forces only reasserted full control earlier this year following heavy fighting and widespread destruction.
Though the Kremlin did not cite a specific reason for Starovoit’s dismissal, political analysts believe it may be tied to an ongoing corruption investigation in Kursk, focused on funds meant to reinforce Russia’s border with Ukraine.
Corruption Allegations and Fallout
The Moscow Times reported that the decision to replace Starovoit may have been made months ago, with Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin now stepping in as acting minister.
Since Starovoit left the Kursk governorship, several arrests have been made in connection with a corruption probe, including his successor Alexei Smirnov and Smirnov’s deputy. The two are accused of embezzling approximately 1 billion rubles (about $12.7 million) intended for border defense construction.
Political analyst Yevgeny Minchenko called Starovoit’s firing “predictable,” telling the Moscow Times, “The Kursk region situation has caught up with him.”
Kremlin Responds
When asked on Monday whether the dismissal reflected a loss of trust by President Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, “A loss of trust is indicated only if that wording appears in the decree. It does not in this case.”
Despite the lack of official explanation, the swift sequence of dismissal and death has sparked fresh scrutiny over the Kremlin’s handling of corruption and the growing pressure on regional leaders amid the ongoing war with Ukraine.
