Moscow: Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoit, 53, was found dead, just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his role. Starovoit was found with a gunshot wound near his Tesla car in Moscow early this week.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed that Starovoit’s body was found outside the vehicle, reportedly in bushes near a local park close to his home. A pistol registered to him was also found at the scene. "We are currently working to determine the exact circumstances of Starovoit's death," the committee said in an official statement.
Asked about Starovoit's death, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had been briefed on the incident and described the news as "tragic and sad".
Peskov declined to speculate on the cause of Starovoit’s death, citing the ongoing investigation.
"It can't help but shock normal people. Naturally, it shocked us too," said Peskov. "There's an investigation underway. And it is this investigation that will answer all the questions."
Putin's decree removing Starovoit, who was appointed transport minister in 2024, had provided no official reason for the sacking. Prior to taking over the post, Starovoit had served as the governor of the sensitive Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, for five years. However, he had faced criticism after Ukraine's incursion into Kursk in August last year.
