Cables reveal height of TNK-BP spats

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LONDON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Washington was concerned for the safety of Bob Dudley as the row between Russian and British energy moguls flared up, leaked diplomatic cables reveal.

TNK-BP, a Russian venture between Russian business tycoons and British energy company BP, vetoed proposals to work in rogue states like Myanmar, though one of the Russian moguls "farmed out" the deal to a private company, documents obtained by WikiLeaks and published by The Daily Telegraph reveal.

Dudley, now chief executive officer at BP, said the Alfa-Access-Renova consortium that represents Russia's interest in TNK-BP was "systematically using TNK-BP resources to vet these projects."

Dudley was the head of TNK-BP in Moscow when the cables were written, the Telegraph notes.

Dudley during his tenure at TNK-BP balked at the move to court rogue states and accused the Russian shareholders of launching a harassment campaign against him.

Washington said at the time it was concerned about Dudley's "personal safety" in Moscow and William J. Burns, the U.S. envoy to Russia, said the relationship between BP and TNK-BP was one of "intrigues inside intrigues."

Dudley fled Moscow in 2008 citing pressure from the Russian side of the relationship. BP is now in a spat with TNK-BP over a BP deal with Russian oil company Rosneft to explore for oil in the arctic region of Russia.

TNK-BP moved to block the deal in a London court, saying BP broke its obligations under a shareholder agreement.