Moscow, July 9, (dpa/GNA) – The Kremlin is “shocked” by the death of dismissed transport minister Roman Starovoit, spokesman Dimitry Peskov said in Moscow on Tuesday.
“This cannot fail to shock normal people,” Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS.
President Vladimir Putin fired Starovoit on Monday, but did not give a reason. A few hours later, the death of the 53-year-old was announced. Investigators said suicide is suspected.
Starovoit was appointed minister last year after serving as governor of the Kursk region. Investigations are under way there into possible embezzlement of funds, intended to secure the border with Ukraine. However, there was no known investigation against Starovoit himself.
Kiev’s soldiers invaded the western Russian region in August.
Russian media have speculated that Starovoit killed himself, to avoid the embarrassment of possible criminal proceedings.
Andrei Nikitin, who was previously Starovoit’s deputy, was appointed acting transport minister.
GNA