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The sudden death of former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt, announced just hours after his dismissal by President Putin, adds yet another layer of complexity to the already intricate landscape of Russian politics. The demise of this senior official has not only stirred personnel shifts within the Kremlin but also sparked widespread speculation about the circumstances surrounding his death and what it might signal for Russia’s political future.
展开剩余86%According to a statement by the Russian Investigative Committee, Roman Starovoyt’s body was discovered inside a vehicle in the outskirts of Moscow, with initial findings suggesting suicide. However, the timeline of his death raises questions, as it does not align neatly with the Kremlin’s official announcement of his dismissal. The presidential decree terminating his role as Transport Minister was published on Monday morning, signed by Putin and dated 9:15 AM on July 7, coming shortly after news of his death became public. Meanwhile, Russian media outlets including Forbes Russia have reported that Starovoyt may have died as early as Friday evening, preceding the release of the dismissal order. The exact timing of his death in relation to his firing remains unclear pending official investigation. State Duma member Andrei Kartapolov told Russian journalists that Starovoyt had “been dead for some time.”
Corruption Allegations and Political Purge
Roman Starovoyt was a senior official in Putin’s administration, serving as governor of Kursk Oblast from 2018 to 2024. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he was responsible for overseeing the construction of defensive fortifications along the region’s border with Ukraine.
Notably, his successor was arrested in connection with a corruption scandal. Investigators have alleged that over 1 billion rubles (approximately ￡10 million) in federal funds, intended for safeguarding against a possible Ukrainian incursion, were embezzled. The prominent Russian business newspaper Kommersant reported that other officials from Kursk involved in the corruption case have testified implicating Starovoyt, suggesting that he too could be under investigation or at risk of arrest.
In Russia, it is common for high-ranking officials who are dismissed by the government to subsequently face criminal charges, as they lose the political protection that might have previously shielded them from scrutiny over their commercial or political dealings.
Last August, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive that captured part of Kursk Oblast, causing significant embarrassment for the Kremlin, which has sought to confine the conflict within Russia’s borders and minimize its impact on Russian citizens.
According to Kommersant, Starovoyt was found with a Makarov pistol, an award he had received in 2003 during his tenure as governor for “ensuring public safety” in Kursk. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that Starovoyt’s dismissal was related to “a loss of trust” but declined to comment further on the reasons behind his removal.
A String of Fatalities and Drone Attack Context
On the same day, Andrei Konechuk, a senior official at the Russian Federal Road Agency, suddenly died of a heart attack while on duty. There is currently no confirmed link between the deaths of these two transportation officials.
Starovoyt’s dismissal came shortly after the Kremlin announced massive flight disruptions triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks. As of Monday, official data showed that nearly 500 flights in Russia had been canceled, with another 1,500 delayed. On Sunday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of long-range drone strikes, with Ukraine stating plans to cooperate with Western countries to expand drone production. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down over 150 long-range drones over the weekend.
These attacks have led to what local media described as “transport paralysis,” with passengers stranded at key hubs like Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport and St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport. The death of Starovoyt undoubtedly adds to the uncertainty and instability currently enveloping Russia’s political scene and the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Andrew Ross如何选择证券公司, Global Affairs Reporter
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