offence although it has characteristics of a statutory criminal offence. Article 26 Necessary Defence (Self-Defence) (1) An act committed in necessary defence is not considered a criminal offence. (2) A defence is considered necessary if it is absolutely necessary for the defender to avert a coinciding or direct and imminent illicit attack from himself or from another, and which is proportionate to the attack. (3) A perpetrator, who exceeded the limits of necessary defence, may be punished less severely, and if he perpetrated the excess due to strong irritation or fright caused by the attack, may be released from punishment. Article 27 Extreme Necessity (1) An act committed out of extreme necessity is not considered a criminal offence. (2) Extreme necessity exists when an act was committed for the purpose of averting from the perpetrator or from another a coinciding or direct and imminent unprovoked danger that could not have been averted in any other way, provided that the harm resulting from such act did not exceed the harm threatened. (3) A perpetrator, who himself has negligently provoked the danger, or who has exceeded the limits of extreme necessity, may be punished less severely, and if the excess was perpetrated under particularly extenuating circumstances, may be released from punishment. (4) There is no extreme necessity if the perpetrator was under an obligation to expose himself to the danger. Article 28 Attempt (1) Whoever intentionally commences perpetration of a criminal offence, but does not complete it, shall be punished for the attempted criminal offence when, for the criminal offence in question, the punishment of imprisonment for a term of three years or a more severe punishment may be imposed, and for the attempt of another criminal offence when the law expressly prescribes punishment for the attempt alone. (2) A perpetrator shall be punished for an attempt of criminal offence within the limits of the punishment prescribed for the same criminal offence completed, but may also be punished less severely. Article 29 Inappropriate Attempt A perpetrator, who tries to perpetrate a criminal offence by inappropriate means or toward an inappropriate object, may be released from punishment or punished less severely. Article 30 Voluntary Abandonment of the Attempt (1) A perpetrator, who tried to perpetrate a criminal offence, but has voluntarily abandoned the perpetration of a punishable attempt, may be released from punishment. (2) In the event of voluntary abandonment of an attempt, the perpetrator shall be punished for those acts that constitute other separate criminal offences. Article 31 Accomplices If several persons jointly perpetrate a criminal offence, by participating in the perpetration of a criminal offence or by taking some other act by which a decisive contribution can be made to its perpetration, each of 9