What or who is behind the death of the former Russian Minister of Transport?

New details are emerging about the last days and actions of the former Russian Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit, who allegedly committed suicide after being dismissed from his post. In addition, the investigation is exploring how serious the criminal case that led the late minister to commit suicide may be and who else knew about his actions. The main target may be a 25-year-old woman named Polina, a scoundrel mentioned in previous programs, the minister's assistant, and, according to rumors, someone even closer to him.

What else is known?

The Investigative Committee of Russia announced that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of former Minister of Transport Roman Starovoit. So far, the main version of the investigators is suicide, as expected. However, according to official data, the date of death of Roman Starovoit is still unknown. According to "Baza", he may have committed suicide on the night of July 6. A source from "Forbes" also noted the same date. According to "Baza", a few hours before his death, Starovoit went to his daughter's competition, stayed there for less than an hour, and then went home. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Transport reported that on July 6, Starovoit held a meeting in the port city of Ust-Luga on an emergency situation related to ammonia emissions.

The "Mash" Telegram channel, however, presents a completely different version. According to the channel, Starovoit was at work at the ministry on the morning of July 7, held a meeting, said goodbye to everyone, and went home. "Mash" bases this version on the fact that Starovoit sent his last message to his personal guards, telling them where and when they should pick him up. According to this version, it was the guards who found his body. The "Mash" channel claims the politician committed suicide around 11:00. A weapon presented to him by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2023 was found next to his body. It was noted that the weapon, which was presented to Starovoit “for his services in solving problems,” may have been the one used in his suicide.

According to a source in "Baza", Starovoit last spoke with his family on July 5. He arrived at his daughter’s competition in a depressed state and left quietly after about an hour. After that, he was no longer in contact with anyone.

Escape from 20 years in prison?

Starovoit was appointed Minister of Transport in May 2024 and served in this position for more than a year. Earlier, it was assumed that corruption-related cases in the Kursk region may have led to his dismissal. The Kremlin, however, did not specify the reasons for Starovoit's resignation, although it was stated that his dismissal was not due to a loss of trust.

So far, the most widely cited version is that corruption crimes in Kursk played a decisive role in Starovoit's final decision regarding his life. Starovoit was the governor of the Kursk region from 2019 to 2024. After him, the regional leadership was temporarily led by Alexei Smirnov. Smirnov was removed from his post shortly after Ukraine occupied Kursk, and in April 2025 he was accused of embezzling more than 1 billion rubles of budget funds allocated for defense facilities built on the border with Ukraine. Smirnov and his deputy Alexei Dedov are currently in custody. According to the "SOT" Telegram channel, it was Smirnov who was the first to testify against Starovoit, stating that he carried out his operation under Starovoit’s instructions. This means Starovoit could have faced up to 20 years in prison if a criminal case had been opened against him for fraud and embezzlement.

The Mash channel, however, suggests the embezzled amount could be even larger. According to their sources, Starovoit authorized the spending of 19 billion rubles without proper oversight. His signature appears on decisions by the operational headquarters in the Kursk region, where a general contractor—the regional development corporation—was given the authority to independently allocate these funds and select subcontractors. Reportedly, this corporation built a residence for Starovoit in the village of Durnevo, where he lived during his tenure as governor. "Baza" claims the former head of the corporation, Vladimir Lukin, and his deputy, Maxim Vasilyev, have given testimony in this case and are also being held in pretrial detention.

Is 25-year-old Polina also a target?

At the center of this dramatic story is Polina Korneeva, Starovoit’s close associate for several years and officially his assistant. According to sources, she was shocked, cried, and could not believe what had happened when she saw the minister's lifeless body. It is said that the police officers who arrived at the scene were shocked by her emotional state and were moved by her sincere grief.

The officers were reportedly surprised not only by the circumstances of the tragedy but also by Polina’s apparent closeness to the minister. Her reaction made investigators pay special attention to her. Reports suggest the investigation is now checking whether Polina had prior knowledge of the possible charges against Starovoit. Law enforcement agencies are said to be examining her correspondence and documents to determine any involvement in business matters related to the alleged violations. However, for now, Polina Korneeva is considered only a witness, and her testimony could be crucial in the ongoing investigation.