Moscow - Up to 1,000 people demonstrated in Russia's eastern coastal city of Vladivostok to protest higher taxes on imported cars on Sunday.

Police, keeping promises to act decisively against the unregistered protest, arrested a number of participants and prevented journalists from recording the event, the RIA-Novosti agency reported.

Immediately preceeding the demonstration, protesters driving more than 40 cars, deliberately slowed down traffic through the centre of city, population 600,000.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in early 2009 raised import taxes on new and used cars to protect Russia's ailing automotive sector.

In the Russian Far East, many people earn a living on the importation of South Korean and Japanese cars.

To head off protests, Putin promised a toll-free transfer of Russian cars to the east. (dpa)