MOSCOW, Dec 24: Russia faces the risk of an increasing number of protests and upheaval because of the global financial crisis, a deputy interior minister said on Wednesday.

His remarks showed how badly the crisis is affecting Russia, where the Kremlin and Russian media have tried to ease public concern over the impact of the economic slowdown, despite a contraction in the economy and a series of rouble devaluations.

“The situation may be exacerbated by a growth in protests, arising from the frustration of workers over the non-payment of wages or those threatened with dismissal,” RIA news agency quoted Deputy Interior Minister Mikhail Sukhodolsky as saying.Other causes of unrest could include “unpopular measures implemented under the anti-crisis programme”, Sukhodolsky said, adding that the number of unemployed might increase.

Riot police detained about 100 people in Vladivostok on the Pacific coast at the weekend in protests over car import duties imposed to prop up domestic car producers. Protests have also been reported in some other cities.

Moscow has pledged more than $200 billion to stave off the crisis, which has already seen companies cut jobs, salaries and investment plans, forced consolidation in the banking sector and prompted a rise in corporate debt defaults.

Russia staged the seventh mini rouble devaluation this month on Wednesday after the price of oil plunged again. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Russia faced an unprecedented danger if the economic crisis worsened.—Reuters