Russia riot police detain 100 at crisis protest

By Alexei Dovbysh

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) - Russian riot police detained at least 100 people on Sunday protesting government measures linked to the economic crisis, a crackdown that highlighted official sensitivity to growing hardship.

Protests took place across Russia against car import tariffs, which are being raised to prop up car producers and discourage Russians from buying second-hand vehicles.

In the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, 6,000 km (3,750 miles) east of Moscow, riot police broke up an unsanctioned rally organized against the duties, kicked a protester as he was being held and hurled a cameraman's gear to the ground.

Police used a loudspeaker to order demonstrators to go home as they gathered near the city center, and the OMON riot police with insignia suggesting they came from the Moscow region, started snatching people after an uneasy 30-minute standoff.

Local media said 100-200 of the 500 participants were detained, but authorities declined to confirm this figure.

Russia's Far East is a major importer of used Japanese cars and analysts say the protests are the first serious challenge by Russians to measures directly linked to the financial crisis.

The global economic crisis has battered Russian financial markets and oil, a chief source of foreign currency revenue, has plunged from $147 to below $40 per barrel in six months.

Protesters want Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to reverse the tariff increase that they say will destroy livelihoods.