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14 July 2003. Tambovtsev and Ananyev again summon Pichugin for questioning. Defence lawyers are prevented from attending. During the questioning, Pichugin is offered coffee and after drinking it passes out for several hours. Coming round five hours after the questioning began, he notices needle tracks on his hands. 15 July 2003. During a visit from his wife, Pichugin's movements are sluggish and he complains of headaches and lethargy. On the same day, the Moscow City Court rejects a challenge by Pichugin's lawyers against the legality of his arrest. 16 July 2003. Pichugin testifies to an investigating officer about unlawful questioning by the FSB officers. He states that they demanded that he testify against senior personnel and major shareholders of Yukos. From Pichugin's description of the FSB officers' behaviour and from his own condition, it follows that an unidentified mind-altering substance was administered to him on 14 July. 17 July 2003. In light of the unlawful questioning and use of mind-altering substance, Aleksey Pichugin's wife Tatyana writes an open letter asking for help in obtaining independent oversight of the investigation into her husband. 18 July 2003. The Basmannyy Court in Moscow rejects a complaint by Pichugin's lawyers of procedural violations during the searches. Members of the State Duma request the Procuracy General, FSB and presidential human rights ombudsman to look into the use of a mind-altering substance on Pichugin. 24 July 2003. Pichugin's lawyer declares that the FSB has applied physical and psychological pressure on Pichugin to obtain the desired testimony. The Procuracy General refuses to have Pichugin medically examined for signs of the mind-altering substance. 31 July 2003. The Procuracy General, after a superficial examination of Pichugin two weeks after the questioning in which he passed out, announces that there is nothing to confirm a mind-altering substance. In response, Pichugin sends a statement to the Procuracy General notifying investigators that "any confession in the possession of the investigation and obtained in the absence of defence lawyers is self-incrimination under duress". Pichugin's lawyers report that they have lodged an application at the Basmannyy Court in Moscow, asking it to rule that the head of the investigation had no ground to refuse an immediate medical examination following the prisoner's claims of the use of a mind-altering substance against him. 13 August 2003. The Basmannyy Court further remands Aleksey Pichugin in custody until 19 November. The court declines to release him against a bond of 3 million roubles and guarantees given by a member of the State Duma and a retired Interior Ministry general. 29 August 2003. Pichugin is charged with threatening to kill a deputy director of the company OOO Kiber-Klab (Cyber-Club), Sergey Lobikov. 1 September 2003. The Moscow City Court rejects a defence submission that Pichugin was unlawfully remanded in custody.
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