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Moscow Found Papier-Mâché Putin Too Scary? Russian Court Sentences German Artist to 8.5 Years
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A Moscow court sentenced renowned German sculptor Jacques Tilly to eight and a half years in prison on April 2. The court found Tilly guilty of “offending the feelings of believers” and spreading “false information” about the Russian military.
According to Deutsche Welle, in addition to the prison sentence, Tilly was fined approximately $2,300 and banned from practicing his profession for four years. The prosecution had requested a nine-year prison sentence, a financial penalty, and the same four-year professional ban.
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Tilly, known for his satirical carnival floats, gained international attention for his controversial works, including his participation in Düsseldorf's “Crazy Monday” (Rosenmontag) parade. The prosecution cited witness testimonies to support its case, accusing the artist of insulting Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
One of Tilly’s carnival floats, presented during the 2023 parade in Düsseldorf, featured a bathtub in the colors of the Ukrainian flag with a doll resembling Vladimir Putin “washing” in blood.
The defense, which was appointed by the state, called for a full acquittal, arguing that there was a lack of evidence to support the charges. Tilly's lawyer claimed she had unsuccessfully attempted to contact her client through the German Embassy, and that Tilly’s position had not been heard in court.
In response to the verdict, the German Embassy in Moscow sharply criticized the trial, calling it an “absurd spectacle.”
“The sentence handed down to Jacques Tilly shows that the criminalization and persecution of freedom of speech by the Russian government continues unabated—and is now increasingly targeting individuals abroad. This concerns us directly,” said German Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, according to Deutsche Welle.
The embassy further emphasized that it would continue to defend freedom of speech, art, and satire.
Tilly, meanwhile, reacted to the sentence with sarcasm.
“Now it is clear to everyone that the Russian regime is afraid of papier-mâché figures,” Tilly said. “With this verdict, they have made a laughingstock of themselves.”
Jacques Tilly, along with his team, has been creating satirical carnival floats for over 40 years for Düsseldorf’s “Crazy Monday” parade, mocking political figures. His targets have included former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Polish politician Jarosław Kaczyński, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and many others.
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Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently become the main antagonist in Tilly’s works. Accortding to Deutsche Welle, the sculptor believes that his satirical floats, which depicted Putin in various provocative ways—such as in a “bloody bath” in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, attempting to consume Ukraine, or falling after a blow to the groin from an image of Alexei Navalny—particularly angered Russian authorities.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Tilly remarked, “In reality, it’s all about Putin. He holds power in Russia and dictates the country’s key political directions… You can get angry or laugh at satire, but you shouldn’t try to silence it through legal means! It’s simply undignified—for any leader, whether authoritarian or democratic.”
In addition to Jacques Tilly’s controversial carnival floats, another notable tribute to Ukraine’s resilience emerged at the traditional carnival in Portugal. The event, which took place during the Entrudo Carnival Week in Loulé on February 19.
A platform at the carnival depicted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dressed in knightly armor, holding rockets and accompanied by a combat dog resembling Pes Patron, famously known for his work in bomb detection.
Zelenskyy was shown facing off against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was portrayed as a red cockroach, adorned with “Z“symbols, a reference to Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
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