"We will send the signal that we see the sanctions against Russia as a wrong way," Hofer said adding that disruption of economic ties cannot be a tool ensuring peace.
Relations between Russia and Europe went downhill in 2014, when Brussels accused Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis and imposed several rounds of sanctions on it. The restrictions targeted Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors.
The Freedom Party has repeatedly called for the abolition of sanctions against Russia.
On Sunday, Austria held a presidential election rerun. On Tuesday, the Austrian election commission counted all additional votes and officially confirmed independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen's victory in the runoff. He surpassed Hofer by nearly 350,000 votes (7.6 percent).
