"Yes, we expect (them). The standard approach, which is spelled out in Sberbank's dividend policy, is no less than 50%. We will discuss this further," the TASS news agency quoted Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev as saying.
Sberbank, like many major Russian companies, did not pay a 2021 dividend last year on the government's orders.
The rouble-based MOEX index pared losses to climb 0.6% higher on the day, while Sberbank shares did the same, gaining around 1.6% by 1333 GMT and nearing a multi-month high.
TASS also quoted Kolychev as saying that Russia's economy may perform better in 2023 than the current official forecast of a 0.8% decline. The International Monetary Fund expects Russia's economy to grow 0.3% this year.
After a GDP contraction of around 2.5% last year as the West imposed restrictions in an effort to punish Moscow over its actions in Ukraine, the economic outlook for 2023 is less gloomy.
That said, Russia faces a labour market shortage and lower oil and gas revenues as price caps and embargoes kick in, as well as a sharply widening budget deficit.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Gareth Jones)
