Moscow condemns German sculptor for work with Putin and Kirill

A Moscow court sentenced German sculptor Jacques Tilly in absentia to eight years and six months in prison. The reason is his carnival sculpture depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill in a sexual pose.

According to the court, he was guilty of spreading false information about the military and insulting believers. Tilly denies the accusations, calling them an attack on free speech.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also fined Tilly €2,150 and banned him from running the website for four years. However, these sanctions are not enforceable as the artist is not a permanent resident of Russia.

The case also included an interview with Deutsche Welle in 2024, in which Tilly criticised the Russian military and its actions in Ukraine. The court also worked with the testimony of three witnesses who claimed to be outraged by the sculpture, although they did not attend the hearing in person.

The sculptor is known for provocative works depicting various world leaders, including Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

(reuters, max)