By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Printed: 07 Jul 2025 • 22:37
• 2 minutes learn
Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured assembly Roman Starovoit on January 30, 2025 within the Kremlin | Credit score: Kremlin
Allegedly fired by Vladimir Putin on suspicion of corruption, Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit died by suicide on Monday, a number of information retailers reported. Nevertheless, the circumstances of his dying are nonetheless being investigated, whereas one model says he dedicated suicide earlier than being fired.
The Russian president dismissed Starovoit on Monday morning, and some hours later was discovered lifeless of a self-inflicted gunshot, CNN reported.
The Kremlin web site revealed the official assertion asserting the transport minister’s dismissal. The identical press launch introduced that his deputy, Andrey Nikitin, had been appointed performing minister, CNN added. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied this was on account of a “lack of belief,” however he didn’t provide any different purpose throughout a gathering with the information reporters.
‘Fundamental concept is suicide’
In a separate assertion, the Investigative Committee of Russia knowledgeable that Starovoit’s physique had been discovered inside a automotive in Odintsovo, a suburb of Moscow. His physique offered a gunshot wound, the committee added. Nevertheless, it acknowledged that the circumstances of his dying had been underneath investigation. However based on Kremlin-controlled media, Starovoit was discovered lifeless with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo close to Moscow. Officers stated they imagine it was a suicide.
Including to the thriller, Russian media outlet RTVI stated one lawmaker has acknowledged that Starovoit’s dying might have occurred earlier than President Putin sacked him.
“The circumstances of the incident are being established. The principle model is suicide,” Russia’s Investigative Committee Official Svetlana Petrenko stated in a assertion, as hypothesis swirled in Moscow.
On Monday, Russian media additionally reported that the previous transport minister was an individual of curiosity in an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds supposed for constructing fortifications within the Kursk area.
The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one of many causes for deficiencies in Russia’s defensive strains that didn’t halt a shock Ukrainian incursion within the area launched in August 2024, the AP reported.
‘Staravoit: Accountable for humiliating blow?’
Within the gorgeous assault, Ukraine’s battle-hardened mechanised items shortly overwhelmed calmly armed Russian border guards and inexperienced military conscripts. Lots of had been taken prisoner. The assault resulted in a humiliating blow to the Kremlin and was additionally the primary time the nation’s territory was occupied by an invader since World Warfare II.
Vesti, a state TV program, in addition to RBC, a Russian unbiased enterprise media outlet, and the Russian enterprise each day newspaper Kommersant, reported that he was being investigated. Kommersant reported that Starovoit was dealing with arrest.
Alexei Smirnov, Starovoit’s predecessor within the Kursk governor position and who had beforehand served as his deputy, was arrested in reference to the identical fraud case in April this yr, based on a Moscow court docket.