Bio

Alexey Vladimirovich Pichugin was born on July 25, 1962, in Orekhovo-Zuevo, a town in the Moscow Region of Russia. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in a military career. After finishing school in 1979, he enrolled in the Interior Ministry’s Higher Command School located in Novosibirsk. Pichugin graduated in 1983 and was assigned to the Interior Ministry’s unit in the Tula region.

In 1986, he continued his education by entering the KGB’s School in Novosibirsk. After successfully completing his studies, he began working for the Committee for State Security (KGB). Between 1987 and 1994, Pichugin held a position in the Administration of the KGB’s Military Secret Service. Over the course of 15 years, he dedicated himself to working for Soviet and then Russian state security in various roles.

In 1994, after some restructuring within the security services, Pichugin left the KGB, having achieved the rank of Major. Following his departure from the KGB, he joined the security service of Menatep Bank. In 1998, when Menatep Bank acquired Yukos Oil Company, Pichugin began working for Yukos as head of a section in the security department. His main duties included protecting the company's assets and preventing theft within its operations.

Former colleagues described Pichugin as a skilled professional, known for being a strict but fair boss. He received multiple commendations for his service in both the Interior Ministry and the KGB. Pichugin was married at the time of his arrest in 2003 and had three sons, the youngest of whom was just five years old. After several years of supporting her husband's reputation publicly, his wife eventually left him.

Murder Story

Alexey Vladimirovich Pichugin was involved in a series of murders between 1998 and 2002 in Russia. He used his position as a former high-ranking security official at Yukos to carry out these crimes. Pichugin's first known murder occurred on January 21, 1998, when he acted on the orders of Leonid Nevzlin, a major shareholder in Yukos. He recruited friends to help him find hitmen to kill Valentina Korneyeva, the owner of a tea shop.

In the summer of 1998, Pichugin organized the murder of Vladimir Petukhov, the mayor of Nefteyugansk, who insisted that Yukos pay its taxes. He arranged for hitmen to execute this order on June 26, 1998. Over the next few years, Pichugin was also linked to several attempts on the lives of other business figures who posed threats to Yukos.

He was arrested on July 19, 2003, and faced multiple charges. On March 30, 2005, he was convicted of the murders of Sergei and Olga Gorin and the attempted murder of Olga Kostina, receiving a sentence of 20 years. In August 2007, he was given a life sentence for organizing the murders of additional victims as well. He was implicated in the deaths of three people, including Valentina Korneyeva and Petukhov, along with several attempted murders.

Pichugin's trial attracted attention due to claims of procedural violations and concerns about the fairness of his hearings. His defense argued that the prosecution relied heavily on the testimonies of convicted criminals. Pichugin maintains his innocence and has appealed the verdicts. He is currently serving his life sentence in prison.