A TOTAL of 148 BP employees working for TNK-BP have been recalled from Russia due to problems with registration, the joint venture has said.
“We confirm that 148 employees of BP have been recalled from TNK-BP. The reason for their recall is that the status of their stay in Russia has not been fully regulated in line with Russian migration laws,” a TNK-BP spokesperson said. The statement follows reports by some Russian and foreign media that about 150 TNK-BP employees were facing problems in extending their work visas.
There is speculation that some BP staff had travelled to Russia on business visas when they should have obtained work visas.
The Russian police seized documents mid-March from the central office of TNK-BP, one of the largest crude producers in Russia. The Moscow office of British oil major BP was also raided by police.