Former Russian transport minister Roman Starovoyt dies by suicide

Russia has been shaken by the news of the suicide of Roman Starovoyt, the country’s former Minister of Transport and the former governor of Kursk Oblast.

Starovoyt, who had been rumored for dismissal in recent months, was found dead from a gunshot wound inside his vehicle in Odintsovo, Moscow Oblast, on July 7. The incident became public shortly after the Russian President announced a decision on personnel changes.

Suicide the focus of the investigation

Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, told the press that the circumstances surrounding Starovoyt’s death are under investigation.

“The main scenario is suicide,” Petrenko noted, confirming the primary direction of the inquiry. Teams from the Moscow Oblast Investigative Committee have reportedly begun their work at the scene.

However, sources suggest that Starovoyt’s suicide may not be linked to his dismissal from the ministerial post he held for just over a year, but rather to a potential criminal case against him. This claim was voiced by a source with knowledge of the case as well as another source close to the regional government.

Allegations of a corruption case

According to the allegations, Alexei Smirnov—who served as Starovoyt’s first deputy during his governorship of Kursk and later succeeded him—may have testified against Starovoyt in connection with his own criminal case.

Smirnov was arrested in Moscow in April on charges of fraud and abuse of office as part of an organized group. The case involves the embezzlement of over 1 billion rubles in public funds allocated to the Kursk Oblast Development Corporation for constructing fortifications along the Ukrainian border.

Investigators allege that the defendants managed an organized group and, in collaboration with the company’s management, stole money from the budget. An inspection in March determined that substandard concrete pyramids installed at the border resulted in damages amounting to 156 million rubles. The construction of these fortifications began in 2023.

In April, Starovoyt stated that he had not yet been questioned about the case involving his former deputy. “The investigation is ongoing,” he said. “No questions have come my way for now. If they do, we will provide our full support to the investigation.”

Andrei Nikitin appointed new minister

The decree for Starovoyt’s dismissal was published on the morning of July 7, though it did not specify a reason. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the decision was not made due to a “loss of confidence.”

On the same day, the President signed a decree appointing Andrei Nikitin as the acting Minister of Transport.

Nikitin, the former governor of Novgorod, had been appointed deputy minister in February. At the time, this move was seen as a “temporary demotion,” but it was rumored that Nikitin was brought to the ministry with the intention of a future promotion.

In a meeting with Putin, Nikitin explained that he was working on initiatives such as the digitalization of the transport sector, integrating the tickets of citizens receiving social assistance into an electronic system, and developing civilian unmanned aerial vehicles.

Nikitin’s career and goals

Andrei Nikitin, 45, was born in Moscow and is a graduate of the State University of Management. He held various positions in the business world starting in the early 2000s. In 2011, he was elected general director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). Nikitin became the Governor of Novgorod in 2017 and was re-elected for a second term in 2022. He left his governorship in February 2024 to become the Deputy Minister of Transport.

Putin added that he had offered Nikitin the chance to “take another step up the career ladder” and that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also appreciated his qualifications.

Mishustin is expected to submit Nikitin’s candidacy to the Duma for approval. Following meetings with committees and parliamentary groups, the candidate will be voted on in a plenary session. If approved, he will be formally appointed by the President.

An expected appointment

Sources had indicated a high probability that Starovoyt would be dismissed and replaced by Nikitin due to events in Kursk Oblast in 2024, although the timing of the change was uncertain. It is also noted that Putin has always maintained a very positive relationship with Nikitin, meeting with him frequently during his tenure as Governor of Novgorod.