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Russian Court Convicts German Sculptor in Absentia for Depicting Putin and Patriarch in Sex Act
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 2, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
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German sculptor Jacques Tilly was sentenced in absentia by a Moscow court to eight years and six months in prison for satirically depicting President Putin and Patriarch Kirill in a sex act—charges that reflect Russia’s crackdown on dissent.
Russian court convicts German sculptor in absentia for depicting Putin and patriarch in sex act
German Sculptor Jacques Tilly Sentenced Over Controversial Carnival Float
By Anna Peverieri
April 2 (Reuters) - German sculptor Jacques Tilly, the creator of a carnival float showing Russian President Vladimir Putin and Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill engaging in a sex act, was sentenced in absentia by a Moscow court on Thursday to eight years and six months in prison.
Details of the Court Case
Independent news outlet SOTAvision reported that the court had found Tilly guilty of spreading "false information" about the military and insulting religious believers.
Key Evidence Presented
The case also featured a 2024 interview with Deutsche Welle in which Tilly condemned what he called "all the bloody crimes committed by the Russian military" in Ukraine.
Tilly's Response to the Charges
Tilly, who is famed for his provocative carnival creations, has denounced the charges as an assault on freedom of expression.
"There is no reason to impose such a harsh punishment on a person just because he expressed criticism - satirical criticism .... There is something ridiculous about a state like Russia being afraid of puppets, characters, and satirical criticism," he told Reuters on Thursday.
Sentencing and Legal Ramifications
Judge Konstantin Ochirov of Moscow's Basmanny Court sentenced Tilly to serve the term in a penal colony, pay a fine of 200,000 roubles ($2,490) and be barred from administering websites for four years, none of which are enforceable as he does not reside in Russia.
Testimonies and Expert Opinions
SOTAvision said prosecutors had read out identical testimony from three witnesses who said they were outraged by the sculpture but did not appear in court.
It said an expert witness had testified that the figures depicted - a man in military uniform and a clergyman - were "undoubtedly Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill".
Tilly's History of Political Satire
Previous Controversial Works
Among Tilly's other creations are a float showing Putin wallowing in blood in a bathtub in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag. Another depicted him and U.S. President Donald Trump devouring Europe.
Targets of Tilly's Satire
Tilly has said his floats are intended to provoke and challenge political power, targeting a range of leaders including Putin, Trump and Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan.
($1 = 80.4000 roubles)
(Reporting by Anna Peverieri in Barcelona and Kirsti Knolle in Berlin; additional reporting by Petra Wischgoll and Andi Kranz; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •Tilly was convicted of spreading false information about Russia’s military and insulting religious believers; penalties include imprisonment, a 200,000‑rouble fine, and a website administration ban (none enforceable since he doesn’t reside in Russia)
- •His provocative floats—such as Putin bathing in blood colored as the Ukrainian flag and feasting on Europe—are part of a long tradition of political satire in German carnival culture
- •Critics view the verdict as emblematic of Russia weaponizing its judicial system to stifle free expression, particularly satire targeting the Kremlin
Frequently Asked Questions about Russian court convicts German sculptor in absentia for depicting Putin and patriarch in sex act
1Who is Jacques Tilly?
Jacques Tilly is a German sculptor known for provocative carnival floats, including those depicting political figures.
2Why was Jacques Tilly convicted in Russia?
A Moscow court convicted Tilly for creating a carnival float depicting Russian President Putin and Patriarch Kirill in a provocative manner.
3What sentence did Jacques Tilly receive?
Tilly was sentenced in absentia to eight years and six months in prison, a fine, and a four-year ban from running websites.
4Are the charges against Tilly enforceable?
The charges are not enforceable because Jacques Tilly does not reside in Russia.
5What other figures has Tilly targeted in his work?
Besides Putin, Tilly has depicted leaders like Donald Trump and Turkey's President Erdogan in his carnival floats.
