Former Russian Transport Minister Starovoit Found Dead After Dismissal, Corruption Probe Intensifies

Roman Starovoit, Russia’s former transport minister, was found dead with a gunshot wound near his car in the Moscow region on Monday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his post. The Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the 53-year-old politician’s death, with preliminary reports suggesting a possible suicide, as a pistol registered in his name was found nearby.

However, the timing of Starovoit’s death has fueled widespread speculation. His dismissal, announced via presidential decree earlier on Monday without explanation, quickly linked to an ongoing corruption investigation in the Kursk region, where Starovoit previously served as governor. The probe centers on the alleged embezzlement of 19.4 billion roubles ($246 million) allocated in 2022 for border defenses with Ukraine.

This development follows the charging of Alexei Smirnov, Starovoit’s successor and former deputy in Kursk, with embezzling defense funds in April. Russian media reports indicate Smirnov, who denies wrongdoing, has implicated Starovoit in the alleged fraud. The incident further complicates Russia’s transport sector, already grappling with Western sanctions, financial strain on key enterprises like Russian Railways, and disruptions from Ukrainian drone attacks.

Following Starovoit’s removal, Andrei Nikitin, former governor of the Novgorod region, has been appointed as acting transport minister, pledging to modernize the sector and boost digital infrastructure.

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