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Bailiffs raid BP's offices in Moscow Bailiffs raid BP's offices in Moscow
(40 minutes later)
BP has confirmed that bailiffs have entered its offices in Moscow.BP has confirmed that bailiffs have entered its offices in Moscow.
The company's spokesman in Moscow said their arrival was linked to a case in a regional court in Western Siberia relating to the collapse of the Arctic oil exploration deal with Rosneft.The company's spokesman in Moscow said their arrival was linked to a case in a regional court in Western Siberia relating to the collapse of the Arctic oil exploration deal with Rosneft.
The deal collapsed because of a legal challenge from its Russian partners in the joint venture TNK-BP. The deal has now been done with Exxon Mobil instead.The deal collapsed because of a legal challenge from its Russian partners in the joint venture TNK-BP. The deal has now been done with Exxon Mobil instead.
In a statement, BP said there were "no legitimate grounds for such a raid".In a statement, BP said there were "no legitimate grounds for such a raid".
The raid was on the offices of BP EOC, an exploration company, which BP said had no connection with the court case in Tyumen in Siberia.The raid was on the offices of BP EOC, an exploration company, which BP said had no connection with the court case in Tyumen in Siberia.
"If the Tyumen Court decision is allowed to stand, it means any party can raid a company's premises at will and examine all its documents," BP said."If the Tyumen Court decision is allowed to stand, it means any party can raid a company's premises at will and examine all its documents," BP said.
"They are confidential and have no connection with any shareholders' issues.""They are confidential and have no connection with any shareholders' issues."
The case was brought by a minority shareholder in TNK-BP, Andrei Prokhorov, who alleges that two BP executives on the TNK-BP board must have known about the secret negotiations between BP and Rosneft.
He claims that their failure to tell other board members about the talks cost the venture 87bn roubles ($3bn; £1.8bn) in lost deals.
"We do not believe there is any legitimate basis whatsoever for the claim launched against BP in the Tyumen court and we intend to defend our interests vigorously," BP said.
'Sustained harassment''Sustained harassment'
BP signed up to a strategic alliance with state-owned Rosneft in January, but its existing partners in Russia said it had broken an agreement covering any other Russian oil business deals.BP signed up to a strategic alliance with state-owned Rosneft in January, but its existing partners in Russia said it had broken an agreement covering any other Russian oil business deals.
BP's management are well versed in the problems of doing business in Russia.BP's management are well versed in the problems of doing business in Russia.
Chief executive Robert Dudley was chief executive of the TNK-BP joint venture for five years until 2008, when he resigned as a result of "sustained harassment".Chief executive Robert Dudley was chief executive of the TNK-BP joint venture for five years until 2008, when he resigned as a result of "sustained harassment".
BP and the Russian billionaires' investment vehicle Alfa Access-Renova (AAR) each own a 50% stake in TNK-BP.BP and the Russian billionaires' investment vehicle Alfa Access-Renova (AAR) each own a 50% stake in TNK-BP.
In 2008, the British Embassy in Moscow criticised the way that AAR members had "manipulated elements of the Russian state bureaucracy" in their attempts to get Mr Dudley replaced.
TNK-BP faced lawsuits, visa rows and industrial spying claims.