Russia's former transport minister was found dead in his car outside Moscow with a gunshot wound, hours after President Vladimir Putin fired him.

Russia's Investigative Committee, the top criminal investigation agency, said Mr Starovoit's body was discovered in his vehicle parked in Odintsovo, a neighbourhood west of Moscow where members of the country's elite live.

Former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead from an apparent suicide on Monday, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin fired him from his job. No reason was given for Starovoit’s dismissal,