“My Instagram account should not be the only source of information”

Other times, people ask if they can use my cartoons in protests or pickets. Then I usually find out what the event is – if I would like to participate in it myself, I let you use it.

It is unpleasant when my drawings are used without asking, and even worse when they are modified – half is cut off, something is written on top. It’s good to ask!

I am not an active picketer myself, I believe that it makes more sense for me if I draw something on the topic, rather than standing on the picket with a poster myself. I am probably more of an individualist and I give my contribution in a different way. However, after the war in Ukraine started, I thought it was important to go and participate in the picket, and also when it was two years since the full-scale invasion, it was important for me to be there and show that we have not forgotten what is happening in Ukraine.

I believe that a not very successful democracy is still better than authoritarianism or totalitarianism.

People sometimes think that democracy is cumbersome and prolongs decision-making, it would be better to have a firm hand that decides everything and things happen quickly and easily. This is a rather superficial and dangerous position.

Indifference, reluctance to delve deeper is especially harmful to democracy. People don’t want to read long articles, watch complicated political shows. My cartoons sometimes help them understand important things more easily, but my Instagram account (@karikaturalv) should not be the only source of information.

Indifference is also not engaging in activities such as picketing or protesting. People say that nothing will change anyway. But sometimes it changes. In a democracy, politicians observe public attitudes and try to respond to them. We see what non-involvement has done to Russia. When there were still opportunities to go out on the streets and show that it doesn’t matter, nobody did. It gives the ruling powers the confidence to move on, the screws are slowly tightened until it is almost impossible to influence anything.”