Lamar McKay, BP executive vice president, said: Bob Dudley has a valid employment contract and is therefore entitled under Russian law to a renewal of his work visa. Therefore we remain confident that, if the laws are properly applied, he will be given a new work visa.
Russian law firm Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev & Partners, which BP has retained to advise on matters related to the current TNK-BP shareholder dispute, including the associated issues impacting the TNK-BP joint venture, has issued an opinion which reportedly supports the view that Mr Dudley’s employment contract is valid, and that he is therefore entitled by law to receive a new work visa.
The law firm’s opinion reportedly confirms that under Russian law fixed-term employment contracts automatically become open-ended upon expiry of the original terms, unless there is a specific order to terminate.
BP noted that, since there has been no specific decision by Mr Dudley’s employer to terminate his contract, and he continues to perform his duties, his employment contract remains valid.
