By Ria Novosti. Moscow, Russia, 11:02 PM IST

Moscow, July 26 (RIA Novosti) The CEO of Russian-British oil venture TNK-BP Robert Dudley has been summoned by prosecutors here, the company said Saturday.

Dudley had been told to appear at the Moscow district prosecutors' office Monday for alleged labour law violations by the oil company, which is currently caught up in a dispute between its shareholders, British oil major British Petroleum and a consortium of Russian tycoons.

Dudley 'is unlikely to be there. A representative will probably be sent. Dudley's personal attendance is not required,' a TNK-BP spokesperson told RIA Novosti.

The company had said Thursday that Dudley would temporarily leave Russia to run the company from abroad. BP blamed a campaign of harassment by Russian shareholders of the joint venture.

Dudley, a BP-appointed US executive, has been accused by Russian shareholders of acting only in BP's interests, and has said he was leaving, as Russian authorities have not renewed his visa.

On Friday, the British Foreign Office warned that Dudley's departure from Russia would be 'bad news for both the Russian economy and the global energy industry as a whole.'

By Ria Novosti (Staff Writer, © IANS)