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British Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is in close ties with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Robert Dudley - the head of the British company British Petroleum, who is a major investor in the oil sector of Azerbaijan, the British newspaper Daily Mail reports.

Duke of York held a private meeting this week with the boss of BP, Bob Dudley. “More than a year after Andrew quit his trade envoy post, he summoned Britain’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Peter Bateman, to a private meeting at the Palace. Duke’s links with the country, ruled by one of the most corrupt regimes in the world gave rise to many questions,” the article reads.

According to the Daily Mail, the press service of Prince Andrew confirmed the fact of the private meeting with Bob Dudley, but refused to comment on the details.

Last December, a BP-led group signed a deal in Azerbaijan that paved the way for a $45 billion pipeline project that will provide a fourth major route for natural gas to flow to the European market, the article notes.

The Duke has visited Azerbaijan’s leader some eight times in six years, the article reads. “His dealings with the despot range from official trips and private holidays to throwing a luncheon for President Aliyev at Buckingham Palace,” is noted in the article.