Moscow, July 7: Former Kursk governor and recently dismissed Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit was found shot dead inside his car in Odintsovo near Moscow on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin removed him from office earlier the same day without explanation. His body was reportedly found inside his Tesla Model X car in a suburb of Moscow. There are also reports that a firearm was also found inside the car.
As per reports, the last message made by the former transport minister Roman Starovoit was to his security team. He sent the message informing them where and when to pick him up. Upon arriving at the location, the security personnel found the dead body of the former minister and called the special services.
Starovoit (53) had been appointed transport minister in May 2024 after serving nearly five years as governor of the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine. His dismissal was announced without explanation on Monday through an official government decree.
Following the announcement, Russian news agencies reported that Starovoit shot himself. The Kremlin has since appointed Andrei Nikitin, former governor of the Novgorod region, as the acting transport minister.
The transport ministry has faced intense pressure recently due to major disruptions in aviation and shipping, including mass flight cancellations due to Ukrainian drone threats and a chemical leak caused by an explosion at Ust-Luga port.
While some sources linked Starovoit's replacement to ongoing transport issues, others pointed to lingering corruption scandals in Kursk. Several regional officials were arrested earlier this year, and his successor, Alexei Smirnov, was charged with embezzlement in April.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Putin believes Nikitin's experience will help the ministry fulfill its critical responsibilities.
