German caricaturist Jacques Tilly is facing a defamation lawsuit in Russia initiated by Vladimir Putin over satirical sculptures displayed at the 2024 Düsseldorf Carnival. The 62-year-old artist is accused of spreading false information about the Russian army and political hate through his papier-mâché works, which depicted Putin. While Tilly will be tried in absentia on February 26th in Russia, he faces no legal repercussions as long as he remains outside the country. Despite the legal challenge, Tilly views the proceedings as "ridiculous" and has continued to create new caricatures of Putin, asserting that debate and controversy are not understood in Putin's Russia. His actions have garnered support in Germany, with officials emphasizing that only democracies guarantee freedom and the rule of law.