The minister, the general and the oil baron: All the mysterious deaths of Russian officials and businessmen
Roman Starovoit was found dead in his car just hours after it had been announced that Vladimir Putin had fired him as Russia’s transport minister.
While Russian authorities gave no reason for firing Starovoit, state media has suggested that his dismissal was linked to a corruption investigation.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Kremlin said that Starovoit, 53, had taken his own life and that Putin was “shocked” by his death.
Starovoit is among a number of state officials and prominent businessmen who have died in mysterious circumstances since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Putin’s foes and critics have often met with violent deaths.
Below, the Independent looks at the deaths of major public figures that have prompted speculation in Russia and abroad.
Starovoit’s body was found in the Odintsovo district of Moscow that is home to many members of Russia’s elite, according to the Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency.
The agency said Starovoit’s body was found in his car, but Russian media that carried images from the scene later reported that he was found dead in a small park next to a parking lot where he left his Tesla and a pistol presented to him as an official gift was at his side.
Starovoit had served as Russia’s transport minister since May 2024, but prior to this served as the governor of the Kursk region which was attacked by Ukrainian forces in August 2024. Kyiv’s military success in the region has humiliated Russia.
Russian media reported that Starovoit’s dismissal and his death could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in Kursk, where he was governor for five years.
Starovoit’s successor as governor, Alexei Smirnov, stepped down in December and was arrested on embezzlement charges in April.
The alleged embezzlement was cited as one reason behind the Russian military’s failure to foresee Ukraine’s surprise attack in August 2024.
Starovoit’s dismissal also followed a weekend of travel chaos in Russia as airports were struck by Ukrainian drones.
Some commentators in Russia suggested that Starovoit’s associates in higher echelons could have ordered his killing to avoid exposure, the Associated Press reported.
Yevgeny Prigozhin soared to prominence in Russia as the founder of the Wagner Group mercenary force, whose fighters have played a significant role in the invasion of Ukraine.
