He also claims that BP was working closely with MI6 at the highest levels to help it to win business in the region and influence the political complexion of governments.
Mr Abrahams worked for BP’s XFI unit – Exploring Frontiers International – which specialises in opening new markets in often unstable parts of the world.
He said Lord Browne, then BP’s head of exploration, allocated a budget of A?45 million to cover the first year’s costs of the Baku operation.
“The order came from Browne’s aides to ‘get them anything they want’.
“By ‘them’, they meant local officials in Azerbaijan,” Mr Abrahams said.
“There were 20 or 30 people working on it at BP head office, and we soon had a steady stream of executives coming over as negotiators. We got through the money in just four months – after which it was simply increased without question.”
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