BP'S CHIEF executive yesterday used the annual general meeting (agm) at Rosneft, Russia's statecontrolled oil company, to tell the country that it needed to respect property rights and the rule of law.

Tony Hayward inserted the comments on Russia's running of its economy into his speech at the last minute after it emerged this week that Robert Dudley, the head of BP's Russian joint venture, TNK-BP, had been summoned for questioning by the Russian interior ministry as part of an investigation into tax evasion.

The summons comes amid a mounting battle between BP and its Russian partners for control of the 50:50 joint venture.

People close to TNK-BP say they fear the summons is part of a concerted effort to remove Mr Dudley, due to appear for questioning next week, from his position and take control of the company. Supporters of the Russian shareholders say they have demanded Mr Dudley's removal because he is running the venture in BP's interests.

Speaking at the annual general of meeting of Rosneft yesterday, Mr Hayward said that Russia's continued successful economic transformation depended on a fiscal framework that encouraged investment and respect for property rights, as well as the "consistent application of the rule of law".

Mr Hayward arrived in Moscow for a series of talks aimed at resolving a deepening struggle for control of the Russian joint venture.

TNK-BP said yesterday that the summons was part of an investigation into large-scale tax evasion at TNK and TNK-BP between 2001 and 2003.

Mr Hayward's appearance at Rosneft's annual general meeting came as BP continues to court both Rosneft and Gazprom before a possible sale of the Russian shareholders' stake in TNK-BP.

BP became a significant shareholder in Rosneft after it spent $1 billion (€641 million) on its shares when the Russian company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2006.

- (Financial Times service)