BP could lose joint control of the main operating company in its giant TNK-BP venture after dissident Russian shareholding oligarchs opened up their latest offensive to attack the British oil major's interests in the country.

TNK-BP is BP's strategically important 50-50 Russian joint venture with four oil tycoons, holding reserves of more than eight billion barrels of oil or gas equivalent.

However, the venture has gone sour in an allegedly Kremlin-inspired attempt to gain control of the company and paint its BP head Bob Dudley as a corporate criminal.

In the latest initiative, oligarchs Len Blavatnik, Mikhail Fridman, German Khan and Viktor Veselberg have attempted to hijack the coming annual meeting of TNK-BP's main operating subsidiary TNK-BP Holdings or TBH.

The Russians claim the board of TBH is unfairly controlled five-four by BP. They have filed resolutions for the appointment of an alternative board giving them five-to-four control.

The oligarchs can force the situation at TBH because 5% of its shares are publicly listed, leaving BP with a holding of 47.5%.

It is uncertain as yet whether their resolution is enforceable at Thursday's annual meeting, but the move could paralyse decision-making at TBH. That would leave Dudley in an increasingly isolated position amid the current climate in Moscow in which he is being accused of having broken tax and health and safety laws.