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Russia’s transport chief dismissed by Putin found dead in suspected suicide
RUSSIA, JUL 7 – Roman Starovoit died by suicide hours after being dismissed amid a $246 million corruption probe and a transport crisis caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, Russian investigators said.
- Roman Starovoit, who was appointed Russia’s transport minister in May 2024, was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin on July 7 and was discovered deceased the next day in Odintsovo, with authorities indicating the death involved a self-inflicted gunshot.
- His removal came amid an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of government funds intended for defensive construction projects in the Kursk area, following a damaging Ukrainian offensive in August 2024.
- Investigators found a pistol gifted to Starovoit in 2023 next to his body and consider suicide the most likely cause, although the exact timing of his death remains unclear.
- Senior lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov confirmed Starovoit’s death to RTVI, stating it ‘happened quite some time ago’ and that no final conclusion on the cause has been made.
- Starovoit’s death and removal highlight ongoing strains in Russia’s transport sector, worsened by Western sanctions, Ukrainian drone attacks, and corruption weakening border defenses.
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Glam girlfriend who ID'd Putin minister's body could be BANNED from funeral
THE girlfriend of Vladimir Putin’s transport official who was found dead ahead of a fraud inquiry could be banned from his funeral. Roman Starovoit, 53, was sacked by Vlad on Monday after he couldn’t stop Ukraine causing mayhem to Russia’s aviation industry – and was found dead hours later. Polina Korneeva had dated Roman Starovoit for several yearsNewsflash Newsflash25-year-old Polina might be barred from attending her boyfriend’s funeral[/capt…
Russia was rocked on Monday by one of the biggest scandals since the start of the Special Military Operation.
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The Russian transport minister may have died before Putin fired him. Starovoyt officially committed suicide, but given the increasing number of suicides and falls from windows since the war against Ukraine, his death could unsettle the previously protected official elite, even if the Kremlin did not remove him.
His body was found in a park on the outskirts of Moscow – with a gunshot wound to the head and a gun next to his body.
The case of Roman Starovoit is reminiscent of the fate of Soviet Interior Minister Nikolai Shchelokov, who faced charges of corruption, theft and abuse of power after he was removed from office.
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