Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, accused Russian shareholders in TNK-BP of menacing behaviour yesterday in the struggle for control of the oil joint venture.

Mr Mandelson, attending the EU-Russia summit here in Siberia, said that the dispute over the embattled oil giant was damaging Moscow's image with international investors. He described the conflict between BP and the quartet of Russian billionaires who own half of the company as “primarily an issue between shareholders”. But he added that it raised wider questions about Russia's relationship with the European Union and with international investors. ... Read full article