German carnival artist Jacques Tilly poses in front of one of his art works in February. Photograph: Hesham Elsherif/Getty ImagesA leading German artist has accused Russia of “making a fool of itself” after a Moscow court sentenced him – in absentia – to eight and a half years in prison for satirical carnival floats making fun of president Vladimir Putin and his war on Ukraine. Tilly’s work has taken on an edge in recent years, with one year’s float showing Putin bathing in a bath of Ukrainian blood. Another work showed Putin and Russian orthodox Patriarch Kirill sharing an intimate moment. “They don’t even see how embarrassing it is for them, how much they are afraid of satirical criticism,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times April 03, 2026 16:21 UTC