The battle for BP’s Russian oil joint venture escalated on Thursday night as Robert Dudley, its beleaguered chief executive, abruptly left Russia, citing mounting uncertainties over his visa and “sustained harassment”.

BP said it would launch arbitration proceedings against its Russian partners in TNK-BP to recover “any and all losses” incurred as a result of a battle for control of the joint venture that has focused on Mr Dudley’s role as chief executive and led to “sustained attacks” on him.