Constitutional Court upholds criminal offence of “unauthorized activity for a foreign power”

The offence of “unauthorized activity for a foreign power” will remain part of the Criminal Code. The Constitutional Court on Wednesday rejected a petition by a group of senators seeking to annul the provision.

The petition against it was signed by 24 senators, who argued that the wording is vague, broadly formulated and was inserted into the Criminal Code as an unconstitutional legislative rider.

The Court ruled that if democracy and the values on which it stands are attacked the democratic system must have the right to defend itself against such attacks. However, it stressed that the legislation must not restrict freedom of expression.