Konstantin Otschirow

Konstantin Otschirow is a Russian judge presiding in Moscow. He is newsworthy for his recent sentencing of German artist Jacques Tilly, a carnival float builder, to eight and a half years in prison. Tilly was tried and convicted in absentia on charges of "violating religious feelings" and "spreading false information about the Russian armed forces." These charges stem from Tilly's satirical artwork, particularly his floats that criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin. The case is significant because it highlights the Russian government's suppression of dissent and freedom of expression, as well as the potential for politically motivated prosecutions against individuals who criticize the Kremlin, even from abroad.