Russian Minister Roman Starovoyt Dies by Suicide Hours After Dismissal by Putin

Russia’s former Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt died by suicide on Monday, shortly after being dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, according to reports from Russian news agencies cited by AFP.

Starovoyt reportedly shot himself in a Moscow suburb, with authorities confirming that his body was found in his car. “Today, the body of the former Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Roman Starovoyt, was found with a gunshot wound in his personal car,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.

President Putin dismissed Starovoyt just over a year after his appointment, according to a decree cited by The Moscow Times. The decree did not provide a reason for his removal.

Deputy Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin has been named acting minister following Starovoyt’s death.