The Penal Code

Part II. Criminal acts

Chapter 17. Protection of Norway's autonomy and other fundamental national interests

Section 111.Violation of Norway's autonomy and peace

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years shall be applied to any person who through use of force, threats or other illegal means creates a risk of Norway or a part of Norway

a.being incorporated into another state,
b.being brought under the rule of a foreign state,
c.or a state that is politically or militarily allied with Norway, suffering war or hostilities,
d.suffering material restrictions on its right of self-determination, or
e.becoming detached.

Section 112.Aggravated violation of Norway's autonomy and peace

The penalty for aggravated violation of Norway's autonomy and peace is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years. In determining whether the violation is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to whether

a.it has had particularly serious consequences for Norway,
b.it has been committed by means of an organised armed operation, exploitation of fear of intervention by a foreign state, or threat of such,
c.the perpetrator is a member of the Government, the Parliament or the Supreme Court, or a member of the country's highest civilian or military leadership,
d.the act has entailed loss of human life or a risk thereof.

Section 113.Violation of the Norwegian constitution

Any person who by force, threats or other illegal means creates a risk that the Norwegian constitution may be altered, shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years.

Section 114.Aggravated violation of the Norwegian constitution

The penalty for aggravated violation of the Norwegian constitution is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years. In determining whether the violation is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to the matters specified in section 112, a) to d).

Section 115.Attack on the activities of the highest state bodies

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years shall be applied to any person who by force, threats or other illegal means puts the King, the Regent, the Government, the Parliament, the Supreme Court or the Court of Impeachment, or a member of these institutions, at risk of being hindered or affected in their activities.

Section 116.Aggravated attack on the activities of the highest state bodies

The penalty for aggravated attack on the activities of the highest state bodies is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years. In determining whether the attack is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to the matters specified in section 112, a) to d).

Section 117.Interference with important institutions in society

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years shall be applied to any person who by force, violence, threats or other unlawful and organised means interferes with the activities of important institutions in society such as a public authority, a political party or a media enterprise and thereby endangers important public interests.

Section 118.Aggravated interference with important institutions in society

The penalty for aggravated interference with important institutions in society is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. In determining whether the interference is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to the matters specified in section 112, a) to d).

Section 119.Treason

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years shall be applied to any person who in time of war, occupation or international armed conflict in Norwegian territory, or obvious risk thereof, assists the enemy or occupying power against Norway or harms Norway's defence capability.

The same penalty applies to any person who harms the defence capability of a state that is politically or militarily allied with Norway.

Section 120.Aggravated treason

The penalty for aggravated treason is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years. In determining whether the treason is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to the matters specified in section 112, a), c) and d).

Section 120 a.Attack on Norwegian and allied forces

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years shall be applied to any person who illegally bears arms or participates in a military operation against Norwegian military forces. The same penalty applies to any person who undertakes such an act against military forces participating in an international operation alongside Norwegian forces.

Section 120 b.Aggravated attack on Norwegian and allied forces

The penalty for aggravated attack on Norwegian and allied forces is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. In determining whether the attack is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to whether the attack has had serious consequences for Norwegian or allied forces, whether it has been committed by means of an organised armed operation and whether it has entailed loss of human life or a risk thereof.

Section 121.Intelligence-gathering activity targeting state secrets

A penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years shall be applied to any person who for the benefit of a foreign state or terrorist organisation, or without legitimate reason, collects or gains possession of secret information that, if it becomes known to the state or terrorist organisation, or is otherwise revealed, may harm fundamental national interests relating to

a.matters of defence, security and public safety,
b.the activities, security or freedom of action of the highest state bodies,
c.relations with other states,
d.security arrangements for the diplomatic missions of foreign states and in connection with major national and international events,
e.public infrastructure, such as for food supply, water supply, energy supply, transport and telecommunications, medical services or the banking and monetary system, or
f.Norway's natural resources.

Section 122.Aggravated intelligence-gathering activity targeting state secrets

The penalty for aggravated intelligence-gathering activity targeting state secrets is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years. In determining whether the intelligence-gathering activity is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to whether

a.the perpetrator is a member of the Government, the Parliament or the Supreme Court, or a member of the country's highest civilian or military leadership,
b.the perpetrator intended to reveal the information to a foreign state or terrorist organisation,
c.disclosure would have resulted in considerable harm.

Section 123.Disclosure of state secrets

A penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years shall be applied to any person who without legitimate reason makes public, hands over or otherwise discloses secret information that may harm fundamental national interests specified in section 121. Any person who discloses such information to a foreign state or terrorist organisation is deemed not to have a legitimate reason.

Section 124.Aggravated disclosure of state secrets

The penalty for aggravated disclosure of a state secret is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years. In determining whether the disclosure is aggravated, particular weight shall be given to whether

a.the perpetrator is a member of the Government, the Parliament or the Supreme Court, or a member of the country's highest civilian or military leadership,
b.the secret was entrusted to the perpetrator in the course of service or work,
c.the secret has been disclosed to a foreign state or a terrorist organisation,
d.considerable harm has resulted.

Section 125.Negligent disclosure of state secrets

Any person who negligently discloses a state secret shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

Section 126.Other unlawful intelligence-gathering

A penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years shall be applied to any person who in Norwegian territory and for the benefit for a foreign state or terrorist organisation

a.gathers information on personal circumstances, when communication thereof may threaten the life, health, freedom or property of another, or
b.gathers information that may harm the security interests of other states.

Section 127.Conspiracy to violate Norway's autonomy and constitution, etc.

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years shall be applied to any person who enters into a conspiracy with another to commit an offence specified in sections 111-120 a, section 123 or section 124.

Section 128.Unlawful military activity

A penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years shall be applied to any person who forms a private organisation of a military nature in the realm or who participates in, recruits members into or provides financial or other material support for such an organisation. The same penalty applies to any person who recruits, in the realm, a person for military activity on behalf of a foreign state.

Section 129.Penalty for participation, etc. in violent organisations with political goals

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six years shall be applied to any person who forms, participates in, recruits members into or provides financial or other material support for an organisation that has the goal of committing, through aggravated vandalism, sabotage, violence or force or threats, an act specified in sections 111-120 or otherwise disrupting social order or securing influence over public affairs, when the organisation has taken steps to achieve the goal by unlawful means.

Contribution shall not be penalised.