Robert Dudley, the BP-backed chief executive of TNK-BP, survived a move by BP’s Russian partners in the oil venture to have him dismissed on Monday as the two sides dug in their positions ahead of a crucial board meeting this week.

Directors in TNK-BP Management, the management unit of TNK-BP, voted three to two against a motion launched by one of the billionaire Russian shareholders to dismiss Mr Dudley, an issue at the heart of a bitter corporate battle between BP and their Russian partners for control of the venture.