Austria far-right Freedom Party signs Moscow pact

Vienna / AFP

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party said on Monday it has struck a “cooperation pact” with the party of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is courting populist movements across Europe in an anti-EU campaign.
FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache signed the five-year agreement with senior United Russia officials during a trip to Russia, where he also renewed criticism of international sanctions against Moscow.
“The aim is to work together on various levels, from youth party wings via regional branches to international issues,” the eurosceptic FPOe said in a statement.
Strache also reiterated his call to lift “damaging and pointless international sanctions” against Russia over its annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
United Russia meanwhile confirmed the parties had agreed to organise “regular consultations” and organise “conferences, seminars and roundtables”.
“There are ancient cultural and economic links between Austria and Russia,” said party official Sergey Zheleznyak in a statement.