Minister fired by Putin kills himself

MOSCOW, July 08 (AFP): Russia's former transport minister Roman Starovoyt killed himself, Moscow announced on Monday, hours after the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had fired him.
Starovoyt, 53, had been Russia's transport minister for a year and was previously the governor of the border Kursk region, where Russia had battled a Ukrainian incursion.
His suicide came as Russia cracks down on some military and civilian officials in the midst of the Ukraine offensive.
Authorities said Starovoyt's body was found in the Moscow suburb of Odintsovo.
"Today, the body of former Transport Minister Roman Starovoyt was found in his private car with a gunshot wound in the Odintsovo district," the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
"The main version (considered) is suicide," it added.
Russian state media said Starovoyt shot himself. It was not clear exactly when he did so.
AFP saw police and investigators at a car park, with state media saying Starovoyt committed suicide near his car in a busy area near some apartment blocks.