Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed Monday that former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in his vehicle outside Moscow, just hours after President Vladimir Putin officially dismissed him from his post by decree.
According to committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko, Starovoit’s body was discovered in the town of Odintsovo with a gunshot wound. Authorities are treating the case as a possible suicide and have opened a formal investigation.
Starovoit had served as Minister of Transport since May 2024, following his previous role as governor of the Kursk region. The Kremlin has not provided a reason for his sudden dismissal earlier in the day.
Andrei Nikitin has been appointed acting minister and will be formally submitted to the State Duma for approval, President Putin announced.
