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Russia Today
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Fired Russian transport minister found dead in likely suicide hours after dismissal
Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit has been found dead hours after being dismissed from his post by President Vladimir Putin. Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed on Monday that Starovoit's body was found in a private car in Moscow Region with a gunshot wound. 'The main version under consideration is suicide,' spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko stated. Starovoit's body was found in a Tesla near Malevich Park in Odintsovo, a Moscow suburb, around 3:00pm local time, media reported. A Marakov pistol he had been given as an award was reportedly found beside him. Before becoming transport minister, Starovoit served as governor of Kursk Region. An RT source said an investigation against him was set to begin for allegedly embezzling funds for defense construction in the region from 2022 to 2024, when he was in charge. The source claimed that Starovoit could have been detained by investigators on Monday evening and brought in for questioning, facing charges of multimillion-ruble theft. Ukraine launched a large-scale incursion into Kursk Region last August, in what Kiev officials touted as a blow to Russia. However, Russian forces quickly turned the tide, and Ukrainian troops were fully expelled in late April. Starovoit was replaced by his former deputy, Andrey Nikitin, as acting transport minister. Nikitin, the former governor of Novgorod Region, was appointed deputy transport minister in February 2025, and oversaw digital transformation, informatization, and automation of the national transport system.
Russia Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin ‘shocked' by likely suicide of ex-minister
The Russian presidency has described the apparent suicide of recently fired Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt as 'shocking,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Peskov said that 'we have found this shocking too,' adding that the incident was immediately reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'This cannot but shock normal people,' Peskov stated. 'Of course, information of this kind is always tragic and sad.' The spokesman dismissed speculation that the minister was fired due to breach of trust, stressing that no such wording was used in a presidential decree on the matter. Peskov also warned against drawing any conclusions, stating that a probe into the incident was ongoing. Starovoyt's body was found beside the Tesla he had been driving near Malevich Park in the Moscow suburb of Odintsovo on Monday, hours after he was dismissed from his ministerial post. The ex-official reportedly took his own life by shooting himself in the head with a Makarov pistol, which he had previously been given as an award from the Interior Ministry. Before becoming transport minister, Starovoyt served as governor of Kursk Region, which was invaded by Ukraine last August. The region is currently being rocked by a major graft probe involving top officials suspected of embezzlement of funds allocated for border defense construction. Over 20 people have been detained in the probe, including Starovoyt's former deputy, Aleksey Dedov, and his successor, Aleksey Smirnov. The latter official held the post from May to December last year, with most of it in an interim role, becoming one of the most short-lived governors in modern Russian history. An RT source said an investigation against the ex-governor was about to begin over alleged embezzlement. Starovoyt was expected to be detained for questioning on Monday evening, the source claimed.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Kremlin calls minister's death ‘tragic' but gives no clues on apparent suicide
The apparent suicide of Russia's transportation minister brought expressions of shock and sorrow from the Kremlin but no new clues as to why Roman Starovoit might have taken his own life. It comes amid media speculation that he was potentially facing corruption charges. Advertisement Mr Starovoit, who served in his post for a little over a year, was found dead from a gunshot wound – news that broke hours after a decree was issued on Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin that dismissed the 53-year-old cabinet member. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, meets with Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit at the Kremlin (Gavriil Grigorov/AP) Mr Starovoit's body was found in the Odintsovo district just west of the capital that is home to many members of Russia's elite, according to the Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency. It said that a criminal probe was launched into his death and investigators saw suicide as the most likely cause. The agency said Mr Starovoit's body was found in his car, but Russian media that carried images from the scene later reported that he was found dead in a small park next to a parking lot where he left his Tesla and a pistol presented to him as an official gift was at his side. Advertisement The reports said Mr Starovoit's personal assistant was asked to identify his body and she was seen weeping afterwards. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the circumstances of Mr Starovoit's death, saying that investigators will have to determine the details. 'Such information is always tragic and sad,' Mr Peskov said, noting that Mr Putin was immediately informed about it. 'Naturally, we were shocked by it.' Advertisement Russian media reported that Mr Starovoit's dismissal and his death could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region, where he was governor for five years before becoming transportation minister. Mr Starovoit's successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, stepped down in December and was arrested on embezzlement charges in April. Some Russian media have claimed that Mr Smirnov had told investigators about Mr Starovoit's alleged involvement in the corruption scheme and his arrest appeared inevitable. Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit attends a meeting in Mineralnye Vody, Russia (Dmitry Astakhov/AP) Some commentators even alleged that Mr Starovoit's associates in higher echelons could have ordered his killing to avoid exposure. Advertisement The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one reason behind the Russian military's failure to stem a surprise August 2024 incursion in the region by Ukrainian troops that quickly overwhelmed lightly armed Russian border guards and inexperienced army conscripts. The incursion humiliated the Kremlin — the first time the country's territory was occupied by an invader since the Second World War. The Russian military announced in April that its troops had fully reclaimed the border territory nearly nine months after losing chunks of the region. Ukraine had disputed that assertion. Advertisement On July 1, former deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov was convicted on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and sentenced to 13 years in prison in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Mr Ivanov was the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials who were close to former defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Mr Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to Mr Putin, survived the purge of his inner circle and was given a high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Mr Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defence minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the troops. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organisation and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Mr Putin named Andrei Nikitin, who served as deputy transport minister, to replace Mr Starovoit. Legislators in the lower house of Russian parliament quickly endorsed his appointment on Tuesday. Mr Starovoit, who was divorced, is survived by two teenage daughters.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Kremlin calls transportation minister's death 'tragic' but gives no clues about his apparent suicide
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] MOSCOW (AP) — The apparent suicide of Russia's transportation minister brought expressions of shock and sorrow Tuesday from the Kremlin but no new clues as to why Roman Starovoit might have taken his own life amid media speculation that he potentially was facing corruption charges. Starovoit, who served in his post for little over a year, was found dead from a gunshot wound -- news that broke hours after a decree was issued Monday by President Vladimir Putin that dismissed the 53-year-old Cabinet member. Starovoit's body was found in the Odintsovo district just west of the capital that is home to many members of Russia's elite, according to the Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency. It said that a criminal probe was launched into his death and investigators saw suicide as the most likely cause. The agency said Starovoit's body was found in his car, but Russian media that carried images from the scene later reported that he was found dead in a small park next to a parking lot where he left his Tesla and a pistol presented to him as an official gift was at his side. The reports said Starovoit's personal assistant was asked to identify his body and she was seen weeping afterward. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the circumstances of Starovoit's death, saying that investigators will have to determine the details. 'Such information is always tragic and sad,' Peskov said, noting that Putin was immediately informed about it. 'Naturally, we were shocked by it.' Russian media reported that Starovoit's dismissal and his death could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region , where he was governor for five years before becoming transportation minister. Starovoit's successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, stepped down in December and was arrested on embezzlement charges in April. Some Russian media have claimed that Smirnov had told investigators about Starovoit's alleged involvement in the corruption scheme and his arrest appeared inevitable. Some commentators even alleged that Starovoit's associates in higher echelons could have ordered his killing to avoid exposure. The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one reason behind the Russian military's failure to stem a surprise August 2024 incursion in the region by Ukrainian troops that quickly overwhelmed lightly armed Russian border guards and inexperienced army conscripts. The incursion humiliated the Kremlin — the first time the country's territory was occupied by an invader since World War II. The Russian military announced in April that its troops had fully reclaimed the border territory nearly nine months after losing chunks of the region. Ukraine had disputed that assertion. On July 1, former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was convicted on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and sentenced to 13 years in prison in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Ivanov was the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials who were close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu . Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to Putin, survived the purge of his inner circle and was given a high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the troops. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Putin named Andrei Nikitin, who served as deputy transport minister, to replace Starovoit. Lawmakers in the lower house of Russian parliament quickly endorsed his appointment on Tuesday. Starovoit, who was divorced, is survived by two teenage daughters.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Kremlin calls transportation minister's death 'tragic' but gives no clues about his apparent suicide
The apparent suicide of Russia's transportation minister brought expressions of shock and sorrow Tuesday from the Kremlin but no new clues as to why Roman Starovoit might have taken his own life amid media speculation that he potentially was facing corruption charges. Starovoit, who served in his post for little over a year, was found dead from a gunshot wound -- news that broke hours after a decree was issued Monday by President Vladimir Putin that dismissed the 53-year-old Cabinet member. Starovoit's body was found in the Odintsovo district just west of the capital that is home to many members of Russia's elite, according to the Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency. It said that a criminal probe was launched into his death and investigators saw suicide as the most likely cause. The agency said Starovoit's body was found in his car, but Russian media that carried images from the scene later reported that he was found dead in a small park next to a parking lot where he left his Tesla and a pistol presented to him as an official gift was at his side. The reports said Starovoit's personal assistant was asked to identify his body and she was seen weeping afterward. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on the circumstances of Starovoit's death, saying that investigators will have to determine the details. 'Such information is always tragic and sad,' Peskov said, noting that Putin was immediately informed about it. 'Naturally, we were shocked by it.' Russian media reported that Starovoit's dismissal and his death could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region, where he was governor for five years before becoming transportation minister. Starovoit's successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, stepped down in December and was arrested on embezzlement charges in April. Some Russian media have claimed that Smirnov had told investigators about Starovoit's alleged involvement in the corruption scheme and his arrest appeared inevitable. Some commentators even alleged that Starovoit's associates in higher echelons could have ordered his killing to avoid exposure. The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one reason behind the Russian military's failure to stem a surprise August 2024 incursion in the region by Ukrainian troops that quickly overwhelmed lightly armed Russian border guards and inexperienced army conscripts. The incursion humiliated the Kremlin — the first time the country's territory was occupied by an invader since World War II. The Russian military announced in April that its troops had fully reclaimed the border territory nearly nine months after losing chunks of the region. Ukraine had disputed that assertion. On July 1, former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was convicted on charges of embezzlement and money laundering and sentenced to 13 years in prison in a high-profile case that exposed rampant military corruption widely blamed for Moscow's military setbacks in Ukraine. Ivanov was the most visible figure in a far-ranging probe into alleged military graft that also targeted several other top officials who were close to former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu, a veteran official who had personal ties to Putin, survived the purge of his inner circle and was given a high-profile post of secretary of Russia's Security Council. Ivanov, 49, was named deputy defense minister in 2016 and oversaw military construction projects, as well as property management, housing and medical support for the troops. He was known for his lavish lifestyle that outraged many in Moscow just as the fighting in Ukraine exposed glaring deficiencies in Russian military organization and supplies that resulted in battlefield setbacks. Putin named Andrei Nikitin, who served as deputy transport minister, to replace Starovoit. Lawmakers in the lower house of Russian parliament quickly endorsed his appointment on Tuesday. Starovoit, who was divorced, is survived by two teenage daughters.
