Overview

• Roman Starowoit was dismissed by presidential decree on July 7 without explanation and found hours later dead in his car with a gunshot wound near Odintsovo.
• The Central Investigative Committee has launched an official inquiry that cites suicide as its primary theory for the 53-year-old former minister’s death.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov provided no reasons for Starowoit’s abrupt removal, fueling speculation about performance failures or corruption during his tenure as Kursk governor.
• Russian media outlets and political Telegram channels continue to debate possible foul play or political motives behind the unexplained firing and death.
• President Putin appointed Starowoit’s deputy, Andrej Nikitin, as acting transport minister, who has immediately focused on stabilizing airport operations disrupted by wartime drone attacks.