ISTANBUL 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced the appointment of Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin as the country’s acting transport minister, after removing Roman Starovoyt from the post.

“Andrey Sergeyevich (Nikitin), I would like to invite you to take another step forward on your career ladder and work as the acting Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation,” Putin said during a meeting with Nikitin, according to a video published by the Kremlin.

Putin expressed his intention to submit Nikitin's candidacy to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, after which he would sign the decree on the final appointment if lawmakers support it.

“I hope that you will apply all your efforts, knowledge, skills, and organizational abilities to solve those tasks, the most important tasks that are in this area,” he added.

The move came after Putin signed an executive order on the dismissal of Starovoyt, who was appointed to the post just a year ago in May 2024. No reason was provided for his removal.

In a press briefing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Starovoyt's dismissal is not due to a "loss of trust."

Peskov further said that Putin believes Nikitin's "working qualities and work experience" currently best serve the needs of the ministry.

Nikitin had been serving as the deputy transport minister since February, and was previously the governor of Russia’s northwestern Novgorod region.

He said: "Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), this is an honor and responsibility for me. I will make absolutely every effort to ensure that our transport industry develops at more than just an accelerated pace."