MOSCOW, Russia — Russia’s recently dismissed Transport Minister, Roman Starovoyt, was found dead with a gunshot wound outside Moscow on Monday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree terminating his appointment.
The 53-year-old former regional governor was discovered near his Tesla vehicle, which had been parked close to a park in the Moscow region, according to Russian media citing law enforcement sources.
A pistol belonging to Starovoyt was recovered near his body, while initial reports suggest he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Conflicting accounts indicate that his body was either found inside the vehicle or in nearby bushes.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which handles high-profile criminal cases, confirmed the discovery and said it was working to determine the precise circumstances of the death.
Although the principal hypothesis being explored is suicide, no official conclusion has yet been drawn.
Starovoyt, who served as Transport Minister for just over a year, had previously held the post of governor of the Kursk region for nearly five years.
His sudden dismissal on Monday came without explanation, prompting speculation that it may be linked to an ongoing corruption investigation involving border defence spending in Kursk.
Political analysts and Russian media have pointed to a 2022 fund of 19.4 billion roubles (approximately $246 million) that was allocated to bolster Russia’s border defences with Ukraine.
The probe is examining whether the money was properly spent or embezzled, potentially contributing to vulnerabilities exploited by Ukrainian forces during a rare cross-border incursion last year.
A source in the transport industry, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the case, told Reuters that Starovoyt’s position had been under scrutiny for months in connection with the same corruption concerns.
In April 2025, Starovoyt’s successor in Kursk and his former deputy, Alexei Smirnov, was formally charged with embezzling defence funds amid accusations that misappropriated resources left the region exposed to Ukrainian attacks.
The military incursion into Kursk last year marked the most significant foreign entry into Russian territory since the Second World War and caused widespread destruction before Ukrainian forces were eventually pushed back.
Starovoyt, who was divorced and is survived by two daughters, had no known history of mental illness, according to preliminary reporting by local media.
Kremlin officials have not issued a public statement regarding his death. Investigators have not ruled out any possibilities and continue to gather evidence.
