Russian state news agency RIA Novosti and Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced that President Vladimir Putin had dispatched a floral tribute for the memorial service of ex-Transport Minister and former Kursk Region governor Roman Starovoit. Both statements were subsequently removed from public view.
RIA Novosti's report, headlined "Russian President Sends Wreath to Starovoit's Farewell Ceremony," appeared at 10:19 AM Moscow time. The article specified that the wreath contained roses. However, as noted by Mediazona, neither RIA Novosti nor other attending media organizations released photographic evidence of the floral arrangement.