Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead

Russia's Investigative Committee says erstwhile Russian transport curate Roman Starovoit has been recovered dead, seemingly with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was dismissed earlier connected Monday by President Vladimir Putin.

No crushed for Starovoit's dismissal was fixed and lawman transport curate Andrei Nikitin was announced arsenic his replacement soon after.

The Investigative Committee said it was moving to found the circumstances of the incident.

Starovoit was appointed curate of transport successful May 2024.

Before becoming transport curate Starovoit had served arsenic politician of the Kursk portion for astir 9 years, until May 2024.

The portion was partially seized by Ukrainian troops successful August 2024 successful a astonishment offensive. Moscow lone managed to thrust retired the Ukrainian forces, though successful precocious June Kyiv said it was inactive holding a tiny country of territory wrong Russia.

Starovoit's successor, Aleksey Smirnov, was lone successful station for a abbreviated while. He was arrested successful April and was aboriginal accused of embezzling funds that had been allocated for the gathering of fortifications connected the borderline with Ukraine.

According to Russian outlet Kommersant, Starovoit was astir to beryllium brought successful arsenic a suspect successful the aforesaid case.

It is unclear when, exactly, Starovoit died.

The caput of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov, told Russian outlet RTVI that his decease occurred "quite a portion ago".

Earlier connected Monday, earlier Starovoit's decease was announced, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was pressed by reporters connected whether the dismissal meant Putin had mislaid spot successful Starovoit implicit the events successful Kursk.

"A nonaccomplishment of spot is mentioned if determination is simply a nonaccomplishment of trust. Such wording was not utilized [in the Kremlin decree]," Peskov replied.