Jacques Tilly’s carnival floats mocking Vladimir Putin have landed him before a Moscow court. As the trial drags on, the Dusseldorf-based satirist has denounced the charges as an assault on freedom of expression.
Russian President Vladimir Putin bathes in the blood of Ukraine, while US President Donald Trump tears up the climate protection agreement like an angry child: These Düsseldorf carnival floats made by German artist and float builder Jacques Tilly are meant to provoke. They’ve now also provoked the Russian state, which has taken him to court — a first for the famed artist.
A trial against Tilly is now underway in Moscow. It was scheduled to continue this past Wednesday in the defendant’s absence, but after a brief opening session, it was postponed for the second time until February 26.
At earlier hearings in December, the court-appointed defense attorney arrived late; this time, prosecution witnesses failed to appear. Representatives of the German Embassy are expected to attend the upcoming hearings in Moscow, but they will not have the right to speak.
“With everything that is happening in the world right now, I find it downright ridiculous that a carnival float builder, of all people, is being put on trial. It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” Tilly said in an interview with DW.
Tilly’s oversized figures ride on the carnival floats of Düsseldorf’s Rose Monday parades, which take place the Monday before Ash Wednesday, and have become world famous. Whether it’s the church or the state, climate catastrophe or right-wing extremists, Tilly doesn’t shy away from any topic.
“There were many threats of legal action, including last year when I built a float featuringAlice Weidel, the chairwoman of Alternative for Germany [a partially right-wing extremist party: Eds.], in a witch’s house. She holds a gingerbread swastika under the noses of young voters. There were 20 threats of legal action, but no charges were brought.”
What does the charge mean?
In Germany, freedom of expression is a fundamental right, enshrined in law — this includes political satire, provided it doesn’t violate other laws.
“Satire is actually mockery spiced with humor; criticism wrapped in humor,” says Tilly, “and Putin can’t stand criticism. Anyone who thinks differently ends up in court and, in the worst case, in some kind of prison camp.” He suspects that this could also happen to him.
The criminal complaint filed by the Russian government represents a new level of escalation for Tilly. He is accused of defaming Russian state institutions, including the military and President Putin.
Tilly’s 2023 carnival float, in which the Russian leader is depicted bathing in Ukrainian blood (headline photo), is said to have triggered the proceedings. “They say I defamed the Russian military and act out of self-interest.” The same accusations are often leveled against critics of the regime in Russia.
Putin flexes his muscles
Why exactly the charges against Tilly were not brought until December 2025 remains a mystery. To date, Tilly has neither received an indictment nor spoken to the court-appointed defense attorney. If the court finds him guilty, the artist could face a fine as well as imprisonment in a penal camp.
Putin’s long arm reaches beyond Russia, says Tilly: “The consequence is that I am simply no longer allowed to enter certain countries because they have extradition agreements with Russia, such as India or Serbia, Egypt and Indonesia, too.” The German Foreign Office has explicitly advised him against traveling to these countries.
Does Russia aim to set an example?
It’s tradition in German carnivals to mock the authorities with satirical floats: Hierarchies are reversed, and people are allowed to openly mock the authorities, a concept known as the “fool’s liberty” or “Narrenfreiheit” in German.
Centuries ago, the court jester was tasked with telling the rulers at princely and royal courts the bare truth about their actions, openly saying what others dared not say.
“And that’s still the fool’s job today,” says Tilly, adding, “Of course, I didn’t make any false claims — I mocked the supreme warlord Putin, just as I do with Donald Trump, Iran’s mullahs, and [Turkey’s] Recep Tayyip Erdogan. That’s simply my job.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/trial-against-german-carnival-satirist-tilly-underway-in-russia/a-75714838
