Introduction to the Case
Russian President Vladimir Putin is bathing in the blood of Ukraine, while US President Donald Trump is tearing up the climate protection agreement like an angry child: These Düsseldorf carnival floats by the German artist and float builder Jacques Tilly are intended to provoke. They have now provoked the Russian state, which brought him to court — a first for the famous artist.
The Trial
A trial against Tilly is currently underway in Moscow. It was due to continue last Wednesday in the defendant’s absence, but after a short opening session it was postponed for the second time to February 26. At previous hearings in December, the court-appointed defense attorney arrived late; This time no prosecution witnesses appeared. Representatives of the German embassy are expected at the upcoming hearings in Moscow, but they do not have the right to speak.
Reaction to the Trial
"With everything that’s going on in the world right now, I find it downright ridiculous that a carnival float maker of all people is being put on trial. It’s like cracking a nut with a sledgehammer," Tilly said in an interview. Tilly’s oversized figures ride on the carnival floats of the Düsseldorf Rose Monday parade, which takes place on the Monday before Ash Wednesday, and have achieved worldwide fame. Whether church or state, climate catastrophe or right-wing extremists, Tilly doesn’t shy away from any topic.
Background on Tilly’s Work
Tilly has been making satirical carnival floats for years, and his work has included figures of various politicians, including Alice Weidel, the leader of the Alternative for Germany. There have been many threats of legal action, but no charges were filed until now. Tilly’s work is meant to be humorous and critical, and he believes that satire is an important part of free speech.
The Accusation
In Germany, freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in law – this also includes political satire, provided it does not violate other laws. 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. The trigger for the proceedings is said to have been Tilly’s 2023 carnival float, on which the Russian head of state can be seen bathing in Ukrainian blood.
Putin’s Reaction
Why exactly the charges against Tilly were only brought in December 2025 remains a mystery. Tilly has not yet received an indictment or spoken to the court-appointed defense attorney. If the court declares him guilty, the artist could face not only a fine but also imprisonment in a prison camp. Putin’s long arm extends 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."
The Significance of the Case
In German carnival, it is traditional to mock the authorities with satirical floats: hierarchies are reversed and people are allowed to openly mock the authorities, a concept known in German as "Narrenfreiheit" or "fool’s freedom". Centuries ago, the court jester had the task of telling rulers at princely and royal courts the naked truth about their actions and of saying openly what others did not dare to say. Tilly believes that his work is a continuation of this tradition, and that he is doing his job by criticizing those in power.
Conclusion
No matter what the verdict is, Tilly will not be intimidated. He even sees a positive side to the attention he gets. "Of course it is a nice confirmation that one’s own influence is far-reaching. I see that satire hurts, and that it also hurts Putin." This, he says, gives his work greater meaning. “We will continue to produce satire that gets to the heart of the matter.”
