August 2003 BP and TNK sign joint venture agreement to form TNK-BP

June 2007 TNK-BP surrenders a controlling stake in the giant Kovykta gas field to state-controlled Gazprom, following a government campaign against the company's licence.

October 2007 President Putin tells the Federation Council, Russia's Senate, that Russian companies should push out foreign managers. Speech seen as a new development on the Kremlin's "resource nationalism".

March 19 2008 FSB raids the Moscow offices of TNK-BP and BP after charging brothers Alexander and Ilya Zaslavsky with spying for foreign companies. Ilya is an employee at TNK-BP and Alexander is president of the British Alumni Club, a graduate networking group under the patronage of the British Council.

Tricky business when Russia ignore rules

Oil and gas in Russia, even where nominally outside Kremlin control, are still subject to its whims

• Russia tries to burn BP

• Don’t let Russia turn gas into a new weapon

TNK-BP: Robert Dudley and the oligarchs

A guide to three Russian co-owners of TNK-BP who are calling for the resignation of chief executive, Robert Dudley

• Russians revolt over TNK-BP as BP denies Kremlin link

March 25 BP is forced to suspend 148 foreign staff seconded to TNK-BP because of a "lack of clarity" over their work visas.

Russia's Interior Ministry launches a criminal inquiry into alleged “large-scale tax evasion” at a former unit of TNK-BP.

April Rumours begin to circulate of a split between BP and its four Russian billionaire shareholders, Mikhail Fridman,Viktor Vekselberg, German Khan and Len Blavatnik.

Russia's Natural Resources Ministry extends an inquiry into TNK-BP's largest oil field.

Gazprom warns TNK-BP that its patience is running out to conclude the sale of Kovykta amid dispute over valuation of the field.

Russian shareholders issue a statement denying that they plan to sell their shares after Moscow newspaper claims that Gazprom will buy them out for $20 billion.

May 20 FSB raids BP's Moscow office for a second time. A little-known brokerage, Tetlis, also starts legal action against BP in Siberia over staff seconded to TNK-BP. Tetlis's web-site links it to Alfa Bank, a subsidiary of Fridman and Khan's Alfa Group. The company denied any connection with Tetlis or its law suit.

May 26 Robert Dudley acknowledges publicly that there are disagreements between BP and its Russian partners. The Russians declare his comments "deeply inappropriate" and call for TNK-BP to hire more local staff.

May 29 Russian shareholders boycott a board meeting after BP rejects their demand for Dudley's resignation.

May 30 Independent director Jean-Luc Vermeulen resigns, admitting he can no longer help resolve the dispute.

May 31 Dudley warns that TNK-BP has "arrived at a watershed". Refuses to resign.

June 5 BP's chief executive Tony Hayward, in Moscow, warns that Russia's commitment to the rule of law and property rights was “key to the continued successful transformation” of its economy.

June 9 Moscow prosecutors question TNK-BP executives and demand documents in inquiry into alleged violations of employment law.

June 10 Dudley questioned for five hours at Interior Ministry in tax investigation. Gazprom publicly admits interest in buying into TNK-BP.

June 11 Russian billionaires announce they will sue BP in Stockholm and Moscow in bid to strip BP-nominated directors of their powers. Move came after expiry of their deadline for BP to concede greater representation on TNK-BP's boards and use fewer BP secondees at the company.

June 12 BP chairman Peter Sutherland accuses Russian partners of "corporate raiding" and claims the Kremlin is unwilling to safeguard the company. He adds: "This is bad for us, bad for the company and of course, very bad for Russia."

June 16 Fridman accuses Sutherland of "Goebbels propaganda" and declares that the Russian side has the "moral support" of its government. Vekselberg, in a separate interview, describes open warfare within TNK-BP, calling it "a madhouse".

June 20 Igor Sechin, the shadowy deputy prime minister responsible for energy policy, says that "some moves towards a resolution have begun". Moscow prosecutors wind up inquiry after finding only two "insignificant" labour violations.

June 25 Russian shareholders accuse BP of secretly working with the Kremlin to sell on their shares to Gazprom. President Medvedev denies that the state wants any stake in private companies, including TNK-BP.

June 27 Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner, attacks the "menacing behaviour" of TNK-BP's Russian shareholders and says the dispute is affecting Russia's image with international investors.

June 30 Dudley warns that foreign specialists, including himself, may have to leave Russia after government officials approve only 71 of 146 requests for working visas.

July 1 Federal Migration Service approves working visas for 49 foreign TNK-BP staff, including Dudley. BP withdraws 88 foreign secondees from TNK-BP.

July 5 BP announces it will sue TNK-BP's Russian shareholders in London over $365 million in unpaid taxes.

July 7 Russian shareholders call extraordinary meeting of TNK-BP Management to demand removal of Dudley and his replacement by an "independent candidate". Management vote 3-2 against dismissing Dudley, but further attempts to remove him are likely.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive