The drama continues to peak in the unfortunate shareholder dispute currently unraveling with TNK-BP. We have Robert Dudley undergoing “interrogations” by the tax authorities, Gazprom first denying then expressing interest in taking over a stake, and the Russian shareholders launching a new lawsuit. BP Chairman Peter Sutherland just kicked it up a notch: “This is just a return to the corporate raiding activities that were prevalent in Russia in the 1990s. (…) Prime minister [Vladimir] Putin has referred to these tactics as relics of the 1990s but unfortunately our partners continue to use them and the leaders of the country seem unwilling or unable to step in and stop them. (…) This is bad for us, bad for the company and of course very bad for Russia.” I couldn’t agree more.