Latest news with #Starovoyt
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Minister's death spooks Russian elite
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia - The reported suicide of Russia's transport minister hours after he was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, sparking speculation he would be arrested on corruption charges, has shaken the country's elite. Roman Starovoyt was buried in Saint Petersburg on Friday, with his family weeping at his open coffin before it was lowered into the ground. The 53-year-old was found dead in his car on Monday in an elite Moscow suburb — hours after Putin issued a decree to fire him, with no explanation. Russian investigators say he shot himself. Media reports said he was being investigated for corruption and could have been arrested within days. While government departments sent flowers and some ministers attended a memorial ceremony in Moscow a day earlier, there was unease over the fate of Starovoyt, who had climbed the ranks of Russia's bureaucracy to a seat in the cabinet. Many who came to the ceremony in Moscow refused to speak to AFP. 'It's a great loss. Very unexpected,' said Valentina, a 42-year-old translator whose husband worked with Starovoyt. 'He was very active, cheerful and loved life very much. I don't know how it happened.' 'Scapegoat' Starovoyt had been governor of Russia's western Kursk region before being promoted to Moscow, just a few months before Ukrainian troops captured dozens of border settlements in a surprise cross-border incursion. His successor was arrested in the spring for embezzling funds intended to beef up the fortifications that Ukraine ended up slicing through with ease. 'They tried to make him the scapegoat… It's easier to put the blame on a civilian official,' political commentator Andrey Pertsev told AFP. The case is one part of a wider crackdown on officials alleged to have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian army during the Ukraine offensive. The crackdown is a Kremlin campaign that has ripped up previous norms about what is acceptable for Russian officials. 'There used to be rules, where people knew that once you climbed up high enough, they wouldn't mess with you,' Pertsev said. 'But they do not work any more.' In a sign of how out of favour Starovoyt had become, Putin has not publicly commented on his death. Asked if Putin would attend the ceremony in Moscow, his spokesman told reporters: 'The president has a different work schedule today.' At the funeral in Saint Petersburg on Friday, two regional governors were the highest-ranking officials to show face. 'Holy war' While Putin has criticised corruption and vowed to stamp it out throughout his 25 years in power, his rule has been characterised by systemic graft, critics say. The smattering of high-profile arrests has more typically been used to target opponents or come about as the result of infighting among those lower down Russia's chain of power. But the military offensive against Ukraine has changed that. 'Something within the system has started to work completely differently,' analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote after Starovoyt's death. 'Any action or inaction that, in the eyes of the authorities, increases the state's vulnerability to hostile actions by the enemy must be punished mercilessly and uncompromisingly,' Stanovaya said. In such a climate, it was inevitable that heads would have to roll over the Kursk failings. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor at The New School, a university in New York City, said Starovoyt's apparent suicide showed the Russian elite was 'scared'. The current climate is such that 'it is impossible to leave the top brass', said Khrushcheva, who is also the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. 'This is something we have not really seen since 1953,' she told AFP, referring to Joseph Stalin's execution of a close ally. To the Kremlin, the Ukraine military campaign is a 'holy war' that has rewritten the rules of loyalty and service. 'During a holy war, you don't steal … You tighten your belts and work 24 hours a day to make the weapons you need.' That atmosphere, said Stanovaya, has created a 'sense of hopelessness' among officials in Moscow that is unlikely to fade. 'Going forward, the system will be ready to sacrifice increasingly prominent figures,' she warned.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Minister's death spooks Russian elite amid corruption clampdown
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia's former transport minister Roman Starovoyt, who died by suicide, was buried in St Petersburg on July 11. – The reported suicide of Russia's transport minister hours after he was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, sparking speculation he would be arrested on corruption charges, has shaken the country's elite. Mr Roman Starovoyt was buried in Saint Petersburg on July 11, with his family weeping at his open coffin before it was lowered into the ground. The 53-year-old was found dead in his car on July 7 in an elite Moscow suburb, hours after Mr Putin issued a decree to fire him, with no explanation. Russian investigators say he shot himself. Media reports said he was being investigated for corruption and could have been arrested within days. While government departments sent flowers and some ministers attended a memorial ceremony in Moscow a day earlier, there was unease over the fate of Mr Starovoyt, who climbed the ranks of Russia's bureaucracy to a seat in the Cabinet. 'It's a great loss. Very unexpected,' said Ms Valentina, a 42-year-old translator whose husband worked with Mr Starovoyt. 'He was very active, cheerful and loved life very much. I don't know how it happened.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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His successor was arrested in the spring for embezzling funds intended to beef up the fortifications that Ukraine ended up slicing through with ease. 'They tried to make him the scapegoat… It's easier to put the blame on a civilian official,' political commentator Andrey Pertsev said. The case is one part of a wider crackdown on officials alleged to have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian army during the Ukraine offensive. The crackdown is a Kremlin campaign that has ripped up previous norms about what is acceptable for Russian officials. 'There used to be rules, where people knew that, once you climbed up high enough, they wouldn't mess with you,' Mr Pertsev said. 'But they do not work any more.' In a sign of how out of favour Mr Starovoyt had become, Mr Putin has not publicly commented on his death. Asked if Mr Putin would attend the ceremony in Moscow, his spokesman told reporters: 'The President has a different work schedule today.' At the funeral in Saint Petersburg on July 11, two regional governors were the highest ranking officials to show up. 'Holy war' While Mr Putin has criticised corruption and vowed to stamp it out throughout his 25 years in power, his rule has been characterised by systemic graft, critics say. The smattering of high-profile arrests has more typically been used to target opponents or come about as the result of infighting among those lower down Russia's chain of power. But the military offensive against Ukraine has changed that. 'Something within the system has started to work completely differently,' analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote after Mr Starovoyt's death. 'Any action or inaction that, in the eyes of the authorities, increases the state's vulnerability to hostile actions by the enemy must be punished mercilessly and uncompromisingly,' she said. In such a climate, it was inevitable that heads would have to roll over the Kursk failings. Professor Nina Khrushcheva, who teaches at The New School, a university in New York City, said Mr Starovoyt's apparent suicide showed the Russian elite was 'scared'. The current climate is such that 'it is impossible to leave the top brass', said Prof Khrushcheva, who is also the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. 'This is something we have not really seen since 1953,' she said, referring to Joseph Stalin's execution of a close ally. To the Kremlin, the Ukraine military campaign is a 'holy war' that has rewritten the rules of loyalty and service. 'During a holy war, you don't steal… You tighten your belts and work 24 hours a day to make the weapons you need.' That atmosphere, said Ms Stanovaya, has created a 'sense of hopelessness' among officials in Moscow that is unlikely to fade. 'Going forward, the system will be ready to sacrifice increasingly prominent figures,' she warned. AFP
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Minister's death spooks Russian elite amid corruption clampdown
MOSCOW - The reported suicide of Russia's transport minister hours after he was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, sparking speculation he would be arrested on corruption charges, has shaken the country's elite. Roman Starovoyt was buried in Saint Petersburg on Friday, with his family weeping at his open coffin before it was lowered into the ground. The 53-year-old was found dead in his car on Monday in an elite Moscow suburb hours after Putin issued a decree to fire him, with no explanation. Russian investigators say he shot himself. Media reports said he was being investigated for corruption and could have been arrested within days. While government departments sent flowers and some ministers attended a memorial ceremony in Moscow a day earlier, there was unease over the fate of Starovoyt, who had climbed the ranks of Russia's bureaucracy to a seat in the cabinet. AFP | TATYANA MAKEYEVA Many who came to the ceremony in Moscow refused to speak to AFP. "It's a great loss. Very unexpected," said Valentina, a 42-year-old translator whose husband worked with Starovoyt. "He was very active, cheerful and loved life very much. I don't know how it happened." - 'Scapegoat' - Starovoyt had been governor of Russia's western Kursk region before being promoted to Moscow, just a few months before Ukrainian troops captured dozens of border settlements in a surprise cross-border incursion. His successor was arrested in the spring for embezzling funds intended to beef up the fortifications that Ukraine ended up slicing through with ease. AFP | Olga MALTSEVA "They tried to make him the scapegoat... It's easier to put the blame on a civilian official," political commentator Andrey Pertsev told AFP. The case is one part of a wider crackdown on officials alleged to have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian army during the Ukraine offensive. The crackdown is a Kremlin campaign that has ripped up previous norms about what is acceptable for Russian officials. "There used to be rules, where people knew that once you climbed up high enough, they wouldn't mess with you," Pertsev said. "But they do not work any more." In a sign of how out of favour Starovoyt had become, Putin has not publicly commented on his death. Asked if Putin would attend the ceremony in Moscow, his spokesman told reporters: "The president has a different work schedule today." At the funeral in Saint Petersburg on Friday, two regional governors were the highest-ranking officials to show face. - 'Holy war' - While Putin has criticised corruption and vowed to stamp it out throughout his 25 years in power, his rule has been characterised by systemic graft, critics say. The smattering of high-profile arrests has more typically been used to target opponents or come about as the result of infighting among those lower down Russia's chain of power. But the military offensive against Ukraine has changed that. "Something within the system has started to work completely differently," analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote after Starovoyt's death. "Any action or inaction that, in the eyes of the authorities, increases the state's vulnerability to hostile actions by the enemy must be punished mercilessly and uncompromisingly," Stanovaya said. In such a climate, it was inevitable that heads would have to roll over the Kursk failings. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor at The New School, a university in New York City, said Starovoyt's apparent suicide showed the Russian elite was "scared". The current climate is such that "it is impossible to leave the top brass", said Khrushcheva, who is also the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. "This is something we have not really seen since 1953," she told AFP, referring to Joseph Stalin's execution of a close ally. To the Kremlin, the Ukraine military campaign is a "holy war" that has rewritten the rules of loyalty and service. "During a holy war, you don't steal... You tighten your belts and work 24 hours a day to make the weapons you need." That atmosphere, said Stanovaya, has created a "sense of hopelessness" among officials in Moscow that is unlikely to fade.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Minister's Death Spooks Russian Elite Amid Corruption Clampdown
The reported suicide of Russia's transport minister hours after he was dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, sparking speculation he would be arrested on corruption charges, has shaken the country's elite. Roman Starovoyt was buried in Saint Petersburg on Friday, with his family weeping at his open coffin before it was lowered into the ground. The 53-year-old was found dead in his car on Monday in an elite Moscow suburb -- hours after Putin issued a decree to fire him, with no explanation. Russian investigators say he shot himself. Media reports said he was being investigated for corruption and could have been arrested within days. While government departments sent flowers and some ministers attended a memorial ceremony in Moscow a day earlier, there was unease over the fate of Starovoyt, who had climbed the ranks of Russia's bureaucracy to a seat in the cabinet. Many who came to the ceremony in Moscow refused to speak to AFP. "It's a great loss. Very unexpected," said Valentina, a 42-year-old translator whose husband worked with Starovoyt. "He was very active, cheerful and loved life very much. I don't know how it happened." Starovoyt had been governor of Russia's western Kursk region before being promoted to Moscow, just a few months before Ukrainian troops captured dozens of border settlements in a surprise cross-border incursion. His successor was arrested in the spring for embezzling funds intended to beef up the fortifications that Ukraine ended up slicing through with ease. "They tried to make him the scapegoat... It's easier to put the blame on a civilian official," political commentator Andrey Pertsev told AFP. The case is one part of a wider crackdown on officials alleged to have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian army during the Ukraine offensive. The crackdown is a Kremlin campaign that has ripped up previous norms about what is acceptable for Russian officials. "There used to be rules, where people knew that once you climbed up high enough, they wouldn't mess with you," Pertsev said. "But they do not work any more." In a sign of how out of favour Starovoyt had become, Putin has not publicly commented on his death. Asked if Putin would attend the ceremony in Moscow, his spokesman told reporters: "The president has a different work schedule today." At the funeral in Saint Petersburg on Friday, two regional governors were the highest-ranking officials to show face. While Putin has criticised corruption and vowed to stamp it out throughout his 25 years in power, his rule has been characterised by systemic graft, critics say. The smattering of high-profile arrests has more typically been used to target opponents or come about as the result of infighting among those lower down Russia's chain of power. But the military offensive against Ukraine has changed that. "Something within the system has started to work completely differently," analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote after Starovoyt's death. "Any action or inaction that, in the eyes of the authorities, increases the state's vulnerability to hostile actions by the enemy must be punished mercilessly and uncompromisingly," Stanovaya said. In such a climate, it was inevitable that heads would have to roll over the Kursk failings. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor at The New School, a university in New York City, said Starovoyt's apparent suicide showed the Russian elite was "scared". The current climate is such that "it is impossible to leave the top brass", said Khrushcheva, who is also the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. "This is something we have not really seen since 1953," she told AFP, referring to Joseph Stalin's execution of a close ally. To the Kremlin, the Ukraine military campaign is a "holy war" that has rewritten the rules of loyalty and service. "During a holy war, you don't steal... You tighten your belts and work 24 hours a day to make the weapons you need." That atmosphere, said Stanovaya, has created a "sense of hopelessness" among officials in Moscow that is unlikely to fade. "Going forward, the system will be ready to sacrifice increasingly prominent figures," she warned. 'They tried to make a scapegoat of Starovoyt,' political commentator Andrey Pertsev says AFP The reported suicide of Russia's transport minister has shocked the country's elite AFP Putin did not attend the funeral or farewell ceremony AFP
Novaya Gazeta Europe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
Sacked Russian transport minister commits suicide near Moscow — Novaya Gazeta Europe
Roman Starovoyt is presented with a gun as an award for his service, 18 October 2023. Photo: Kursk region governor's press service Russia's sacked Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt has committed suicide in his car in Odintsovo, near Moscow, the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed on Monday. Earlier on Monday, Vladimir Putin had dismissed Starovoyt and appointed his deputy Andrey Nikitin as acting transport minister according to a decree on the Kremlin website. While the exact time of his death remains unconfirmed, a source told Russian state-affiliated daily RBC that Starovoyt's body had been found as early as Saturday — two days before the Kremlin announced his dismissal. This report contradicts the official Investigative Committee's announcement that says his body was found on Monday. Telegram channel SHOT claimed that Starovoyt had killed himself with a gun he received as an award from the Interior Ministry in 2023. VCHK-OGPU, a channel with ties to Russian security services, said that Starovoyt, who had served as governor of Russia's western Kursk region from 2019 until 2024, was facing criminal charges for embezzlement of approximately 15 billion rubles (€162 million) on contracts for the construction of fortifications along the border with Ukraine. Telegram channel 112 said that another former governor of the Kursk region, Alexey Smirnov, who was arrested in April in connection with the same embezzlement case, had made statements implicating Starovoyt. Starovoyt had served as the minister of transport for a little over a year. His sacking came at a time of chaos in Russian aviation due to the war with Ukraine, with huge disruption over the weekend of 5–6 July paralysing operations at Moscow's Sheremetyevo, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo, and Nizhny Novgorod's Strigino airports. State-affiliated business daily Vedomosti wrote that the reshuffle had been in the pipeline for months, and Nikitin had resigned as governor of the Novgorod region, a position he held from February 2017 to February 2025, to move to the ministry.
