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Suppose that all these testimonials are just the opinion of friends and relatives trying to cover up for a criminal. But they would have to be regarded as truthful if corroborated by the testimony of other witnesses - of whom there were plenty, if the desire were there to find them. Yet the court displayed no such desire. As I shall demonstrate later, the court's inquiries were not designed to reach an objective verdict.
It's possible that the court might have subsequently ruled that Pichugin's personal qualities, character and circumstances were irrelevant to the case in hand. Judge Olikhver might have believed that sincere respect for women is normal for a murderer. But she was duty bound to at least show an interest in them.
In this part of my research into the Pichugin case I have portrayed the man from the words of various people who knew him in the service and at work, and from relatives. His mother raised him in a way that few can today. The curious and outdated tone of his letters to the outside world, together with his devotion to the ideals of gentlemanly (here meaning Cossack as well) friendship and the service of his country, is clear. It's in the best, albeit naive, traditions of provincial Russia, which have now all but vanished.
So who is he? I think I understand now. I was very much like Aleksey 12 years ago. I can recognise this type of military man, raised in the USSR and by no means the worst relic of those times. Patriotic, orderly, true to his word, demanding yet respectful of subordinates, honest, willing to sacrifice his civilian career when the call comes to "Save the Homeland!", and true to his destiny - these are the distinguishing features of the breed. A dying breed.
Officers such as these were raised in their droves by the faithful from the CPSU Central Committee, to strengthen Soviet power and protect the party's interests. They themselves thought they were protecting the people. The service impressed. One should not mock, for these are by no means the worst of human qualities. It's just that they are not enough for life in our new climate. Officers such as these try to apply their service experience in a civilian life that they do not always comprehend. Their beliefs crumble when those for whom they were willing to walk through fire betray them.
In his prison cell Aleksey saw that behind the national service that he thought he shared in common with the St Petersburg securocrats lies nothing but a crude thirst for power. In just one presidential term it became insatiable. He grew up watching the same films as the president. And today he does 500 press-ups a day as he continues his solitary fight.
So much for the romantic stuff. This is where the story of the man known by his friends and family ends. The life has begun of a different Pichugin, single-handedly resisting the resurgent Soviet machine of repression.
Chapter 3
The arrest
Despite Pichugin's security background, arrest during the second questioning still came as a bolt from the blue. He had no experience of fabricated cases, known in his circles as contract jobs. Of course, given his line of work he was bound to have heard of them. They are not uncommon in Russia. But he could have no concept of a case being manufactured against him, an ordinary guy, at the behest of the state's topmost leaders.
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