Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, 53, has reportedly died by suicide just hours after being dismissed by President Vladimir Putin. According to reports, Starovoit had not been in contact with his family for two days prior to his death.
According to the Investigative Committee of Russia, Starovoit was found with a gunshot wound in his personal car near his home in the village of Myakinino, located in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region. A firearm was discovered next to his body; reports suggest it was the same weapon awarded to him by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023.
No official reason was provided for Starovoit’s sudden dismissal, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.
President Putin has since appointed Starovoit’s deputy, Andrey Nikitin, as acting transport minister. Nikitin previously served as governor of the Novgorod region until February.
