Moscow: The Kremlin has expressed its shock following the death of Roman Starovoit, the former transport minister who was dismissed only hours prior to his death. Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov conveyed the administration's reaction, stating, "This cannot fail to shock normal people," during a statement to the Russian state news agency TASS.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Vladimir Putin had relieved Starovoit of his duties on Monday, without providing any reasons for the dismissal. Shortly after this announcement, news of the 53-year-old's death emerged, with investigators suspecting suicide as the cause. Starovoit, who was appointed as transport minister last year, previously served as the governor of the Kursk region.
While investigations in the Kursk region continue into alleged embezzlement of funds intended for border security with Ukraine, there were no active investigations targeting Starovoit himself. This situation unfolds against the backdrop of Kiev's military incursion into the western Russian region in August.
Speculation in Russian media suggests that Starovoit may have taken his own life to avoid the potential embarrassment of criminal proceedings. In the wake of his death, Andrei Nikitin, formerly Starovoit's deputy, has been appointed as the acting transport minister.
