Moscow, 1 July: There are no obstacles to the work in Russia of foreign employees of the TNK-BP company, Interfax has been told at the Federal Migration Service (FMS).

"There are no obstacles," FMS press secretary Konstantin Poltoranin told the agency on Tuesday (1 July).

"In view of media reports to the effect that foreign employees of TNK-BP intend to leave Russia because they have no work permits, the FMS of the Russian Federation would like to say that these permits can be issued, and that there are no obstacles for the work of foreign nationals who are employees of TNK-BP," Poltoranin said.

The FMS press secretary said that, as long ago as 14 May, permits for employment in Russia were issued to 71 employees of TNK-BP, in accordance with the quota asked for earlier.

"As of today, however, there have been no requests from TNK-BP or from these employees for personal employment cards to be issued to them," Poltoranin said.

It was reported on Tuesday that TNK-BP president Robert Dudley and other company employees on attachment from BP may leave Russia before the end of July because of visa problems. According to The Wall Street Journal, this was announced by Dudley in an e-mail to expatriate employees. "What is clear is that we have now run out of time to remedy this situation by the end of July, when the work visas of some of our staff expire," the e-mail says.

"This may affect all expatriate staff, including myself, and we may have no option but to leave Russia before the end of July or earlier," Dudley writes.

The TNK-BP president expressed the hope that the company would be able to resolve its problems with the Russian authorities and obtain visas and work permits for about 150 foreign employees, including the top management.