His body was discovered in Odintsovo, near Moscow.
Telegram channel Shot reported that Starovoyt allegedly shot himself near his parked Tesla using a pistol he received as an award from the Interior Ministry in 2023.
Independent Russian outlet Mediazona noted that news of his resignation emerged earlier that day. The Kremlin did not provide a reason for dictator Vladimir Putin’s decision to dismiss him from the ministerial post. Former Novgorod governor Andrey Nikitin has been named Acting Transport Minister.
Another outlet, Agentstvo, suggested the resignation might be linked to a pending criminal investigation into alleged corruption during the construction of defensive fortifications in Kursk Oblast.
Forbes, citing a source, said Starovoyt shot himself more than a day before his body was discovered.
Starovoyt took office as transport minister in May 2024 after previously serving as Kursk Oblast Governor.