TNK-BP faces ecology checks in crackdown

By Tanya Mosolova

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's state ecology watchdog announced on Friday it was launching a probe into the biggest field operated by BP's Russian venture, days after security services launched a crackdown on the firm.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) this week raided the offices of TNK-BP and said it had arrested an employee for espionage. Analysts said the FSB's actions could be the start of a Kremlin-driven attack on the joint venture.

The environmental inspection will be led by Oleg Mitvol, who two years ago led a campaign against Royal Dutch/Shell on the Pacific island of Sakhalin, effectively forcing the firm to sell out to state gas export monopoly Gazprom.

The natural resource ministry said in a statement the inspection was due to take place in March or April and was a routine check alongside inspections of other firms. But its timing is likely to attract attention.

The Kremlin has been consolidating its presence in the oil sector. There has been market speculation state corporations were eyeing TNK-BP, one of the biggest foreign investments in Russia which in 2006 had profits of $6.6 billion (3.3 billion pounds).

The FSB said it had arrested TNK-BP employee Ilya Zaslavsky and his brother Alexander on suspicion of industrial espionage. Both men are members of the alumni club of the British Council, the British government's cultural arm.

The Russian foreign ministry said on Friday the arrests had nothing to do with Moscow's strained relations with Britain.

Ties between London and Moscow hit their lowest point since the Cold War after a row over Russia's refusal to extradite a former KGB agent wanted for trial in Britain over the murder of a Kremlin critic in London.