BP’s Moscow Office Raided Again By FSB Agents

BP’s Moscow office has been raided by Russian Federal Security Service agents for the second time in 2008, fueling suspicion that the Russian government is trying to strong-arm BP’s Russian partners out of their 50% stake in the TNK-BP venture in favor of a state-controlled firm, possibly Gazprom, according to The Times.

The news source mentioned that security agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB) raided BP’s Moscow office for unspecified documents, which BP confirmed as having occurred.

BP stated that the FSB raid was part of the ongoing industrial espionage case involving TNK-BP staff, which led to similar raids being carried out in March 2008 at BP and TNK-BP offices.

BP’s Moscow office reportedly has staff with no interests in the TNK-BP joint venture. BP has a 50% interest in TNK-BP, with the remaining being accounted for by a consortium owned by Russian oligarchs, Mikhail Fridman, Viktor Vekselberg and Len Blavatnik.

The Financial Times noted that a lock-in agreement that barred the Russian businessmen from selling their stake in TNK-NP ran out in 2007, fueling speculation that Gazprom is moving in to pick up their stake. This comes at a time when the Russian government is thought to be consolidating its grip over the country’s energy sector.