Sacked transport minister dies by suicide

Hello! Our top story is the shock suicide of Russia’s transport minister, whose body was discovered hours after he was fired amid looming corruption charges. We also look at how a string of internet outages and major disruption at airports could spell trouble for the Kremlin’s support among Russia’s middle classes.

Transport minister facing corruption probe found dead hours after being fired

For the first time since the Soviet Union, a government minister has died by suicide. Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in his car, hours after he had been removed from his position and amid reports a criminal case was set to be opened against him relating to the embezzlement of funds meant to build defensive lines in the Kursk region. Starovoit was governor there until just a few months before Ukraine mounted its cross-border incursion last August, advancing dozens of kilometres into Russian territory.

What happened?

On the morning of July 7, the Kremlin announced the removal of Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, without providing any reason. Just a few hours after the Kremlin’s decree had been published, his dead body was discovered. He had apparently shot himself in his personal Tesla, parked near his home in the plush Rublyovka neighbourhood. A Glock pistol presented to him as a government award was found at the scene. Russia’s Investigative Committee said he had died by suicide.