"This year, inflation is connected in many respects with the reform to replace benefits in-kind with cash payments, the indexation of pensions, and the accelerated payment of benefits and monetary allowances [for the military]," Teplukhin said.
"This is a deliberate political decision from the government. It has made social issues a priority rather than inflation," he said.
"I want to believe this will not become a trend, that it will end, and the government will pay more attention to fighting inflation," Teplukhin said.
"This year inflation will not be lower than last year, and possibly even higher," he said. Last year inflation reached 11.7%. This year, analysts say it may hit 12%.
Initially, the government planned to maintain the price growth within the limits of 8.5%, but the Finance Ministry later revised this figure to 10%.
From January to April this year prices rose by 6.5%.
On Friday, Russia and the Paris Club signed an agreement on the early payment of more than a third of Russia's debt, $15 billion at face value, over four months.
Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told reporters that Russia would make its first payment of $13 billion, within the framework of the pre-scheduled payment of its debt, at the beginning of June.
