The glamorous girlfriend of the Russian government minister who was found dead ahead of a fraud inquiry could be banned from his funeral, her family has revealed.
Kremlin Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead beside his Tesla car with a bullet wound to his head hours after he was told he was being sacked.
Now it has emerged that his long-term girlfriend, 25-year-old Polina Korneeva, might be forbidden from attending his funeral.
Polina Korneeva poses in undated photo. She dated Roman Starovoit for several years. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
Dad-of-two Starovoit divorced his wife in 2021, and Polina had become known as the First Lady of Kursk while he was regional governor.
Political insiders believed the couple were about to wed after Polina was photographed for a fashion magazine wearing a white wedding dress surrounded by bridal lilies.
Polina was called upon to formally identify his body hours after it was found on 7th July.
But her dad, named only as Eduard in Russian media, revealed there are doubts over whether she will be allowed to attend his funeral.
Polina Korneeva poses in undated photo. She dated Roman Starovoit for several years. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
He said: "We spoke with Polina after Roman's death. But she didn't really tell us anything.
"My daughter is very upset, she is in a depressed mood, she even refuses to talk to people around her.
"We don't know yet whether Polina will be able to attend the funeral."
He added: "Of course, I knew about my daughter's relationship with Roman.
"They dated for several years. But I don't want to discuss how I felt about my daughter's choice.
Starovoit's girlfriend, Polina, poses for a photo in a wedding dress undated. It opened a discussion of a possible wedding between the two. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
"We tried not to interfere in her personal life; she has the right to make such decisions herself.
"And for the same reason, I don't want to talk about the details of how they met."
Following 53-year-old Starovoit's death, Kremlin officials were quick to advance the theory that he had committed suicide.
Kremlin sources are said to have revealed that Starovoit was facing a corruption inquiry after his aide Alexei Smirnov implicated him when he was arrested for embezzlement.
Picture shows Starovoit's girlfriend, Polina, undated. She identified his body. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
Any trial would have been a huge embarrassment for the Kremlin.
Staravoit was the Governor of Kursk from 2018 to 2024, when it was invaded and partially occupied by Ukraine forces.
It is understood he was suspected of pocketing huge sums from the region's defence budget, making the invasion a walkover.
Russian police and security officials are said to be investigating his death as a suicide.
(Joseph Golder / newsX)