Russia files lawsuit against German satirist over Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin bathes in Ukrainian blood, while US President Donald Trump tears up the climate agreement like an angry child: these allegorical images of the Düsseldorf Carnival, created by German artist Jacques Tilly, are meant to provoke. Now they have also provoked the Russian state, which has taken the artist to court, for the first time for a famous creator.

A trial against Tilly has already begun in Moscow. It was scheduled to continue last Wednesday in the defendant's absence, but after a brief opening session, it was postponed for a second time until February 26.

In previous hearings in December, the court-appointed defense attorney arrived late; this time, the prosecution witnesses did not show up at all. Representatives of the German Embassy are expected to attend the upcoming hearings in Moscow, but will not have the right to speak.

"With everything that's going on in the world right now, I find it completely ridiculous that a carnival builder would end up on trial. It's like using a big sledgehammer to crack a nut," Tilly said in an interview with DW.

Tilly's giant figures parade on allegorical vehicles during Düsseldorf's Rose Monday parades, which take place on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, and have become famous around the world. Whether it's church or state, climate catastrophe or right-wing extremists, Tilly doesn't shy away from any topic.

"There have been many threats of lawsuits, including last year when I built a float where Alice Weidel, the leader of the Alternative for Germany (a partly far-right party - editor's note) appeared in a witch's house. She offered young voters a swastika made of gingerbread. There were 20 legal threats, but no charges were filed."

In Germany, freedom of expression is a fundamental right guaranteed by law, and this includes political satire, as long as it does not violate other laws.

"Satire is essentially mockery with humor, criticism wrapped in humor," Tilly said. "And Putin can't stand criticism. Anyone who thinks differently ends up in court and, in the worst case, in a prison camp." He suspects that could happen to him too.

The criminal complaint filed by the Russian government represents a new level of escalation for Tillyn. He is accused of defaming Russian state institutions, including the military and President Putin himself.

It is said that the 2023 Carnival float, where the Russian leader is depicted bathing in Ukrainian blood, has prompted these procedures.

"They say I slandered the Russian military and that I act out of personal interest," he said. The same accusations are often leveled at critics of the regime in Russia.

Why exactly charges against Tilly were not filed until December 2025 remains a mystery. To date, he has neither received an indictment nor spoken to a court-appointed defense attorney. If found guilty, the artist could face a fine as well as imprisonment in a penal camp.

"Putin's long arm extends beyond Russia," Tilly said. "The result is that I am simply no longer allowed to enter some countries that have extradition agreements with Russia, like India or Serbia, as well as Egypt and Indonesia."

The German Foreign Ministry has expressly advised against traveling to these countries.

In the German carnival tradition, authorities are publicly mocked through satirical floats. Hierarchies are overturned and people are allowed to openly mock authority, a concept known as “fool’s freedom” or “Narrenfreiheit.”

Centuries ago, the court jester had the duty of telling rulers the naked truth about their actions, openly articulating what others dared not.

"And that's still the fool's errand today," Tilly said. "Of course I didn't make false claims, I mocked the supreme war commander, Putin, as I do Donald Trump, the Iranian leaders and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. That's just my profession."

Tilly built his first bandwagon with Putin after the murder of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006. He says he has been critical of the Russian president from the beginning and does not take the Russian state's accusations personally. It's exactly what he expects: there are values ​​that must be defended, even through critical humor.

"The charges are intended to say: 'We know what you're doing and we have our own ways to respond,' and that's a message for everyone, not just me."

Despite the decision, Tilly won't be intimidated. She even sees a positive side to the attention she's receiving.

“Of course, it’s a nice confirmation that the impact is far-reaching. I see that satire hurts and that it hurts Putin too,” he said. This, he added, gives his work more meaning. “We will continue to produce satire that hits the core.”