The Investigative Committee of Russia announced that the body of the 53-year-old former minister was discovered in the Odintsovo district, a suburb of Moscow. The primary hypothesis under investigation is suicide.
Starovoyt had been appointed transport minister in May 2024, after previously serving as governor of the strategically sensitive Kursk region, which experienced significant conflict during a Ukrainian cross-border incursion.
The Kremlin issued a decree earlier Monday removing Starovoyt from his post without providing a reason. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the dismissal was "not linked to a loss of trust," despite speculation to the contrary.
Starovoyt's firing followed a weekend marked by travel disruptions at Russian airports amid Ukrainian drone attacks, and came amid reports of a corruption probe tied to embezzlement of funds intended for border fortifications in the Kursk region. Some analysts have suggested Starovoyt's removal could be connected to this ongoing investigation, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Shortly after the dismissal, President Putin met with Starovoyt's deputy, Andrei Nikitin, appointing him as acting transport minister. Nikitin, former governor of the Novgorod region, emphasised plans to modernise the transport sector, including digitalisation and improving cross-border logistics.
Starovoyt's death adds a tragic dimension to a challenging period for Russia's transport infrastructure, which is currently grappling with supply shortages and financial pressures.
An official investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
