BP has said the chief executive of its Russian joint venture TNK-BP has temporarily left Russia because of "sustained harassment".

Robert Dudley will run the company from outside the country and BP said that TNK-BP will operate as normal.

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On Tuesday, BP pulled out its last 60 technical specialists from Russia.

A spokesman for BP in London said that Mr Dudley had decided to leave because "he felt the sustained harassment of the company made it impossible for him to lead the company in Russia".

Mr Dudley said that he hoped his decision would mean the "administrative pressure" on the company would now ease.

"I hope this will enable our employees to continue with our business, outside of the media glare, whilst the shareholders seek to resolve their differences," he said in a statement.

Attacks

BP owns 50% of the venture while the Russian shareholding is made up of three billionaires who control a consortium known as Alfa Access Renova (AAR).

The Russian investors have accused Mr Dudley of acting only in BP's interests and have called for his dismissal.

AAR is also said to want higher dividend payments from the venture.

BP said that it sympathised with Mr Dudley's view that harassment by the AAR shareholders is preventing him from fulfilling his duties.

"We regret that Mr Dudley has been subjected to such sustained attacks and consequently has decided to leave Russia," BP chief executive Tony Hayward.

"We remain fully supportive of his ongoing role managing the joint venture for the benefit of all shareholders."

(BBC)

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