TNK-BP oil chief barred from working in Russia: official (AFP)

MOSCOW (AFP) - The head of oil giant BP's embattled Russian venture TNK-BP no longer has the right to work in Russia, a spokeswoman for the federal migration service told AFP on Monday. Robert Dudley "only has a transit visa and therefore doesn't have the right to work" until he presents a valid contract that would allow him to be issued a proper work visa, said the spokeswoman. Dudley's previous visa ran out on Saturday. He was issued a 10-day visa on Friday just hours before the deadline. If he is not issued a new work visa by July 29 he will have to leave Russia, the spokeswoman said. Dudley has found himself at the centre of a bitter boardroom battle between BP and its Russian partners in the multi-billion dollar TNK-BP venture, which accounts for a quarter of BP's global oil output. The dispute is being seen as a test... [read full story]