Joerg Forbrig

Managing Director, Transatlantic Trusts
Berlin Office
Staff,
GMF Expert
My Areas of Expertise:
Civil Society Elections
Central and Eastern Europe Germany Russia Ukraine

Jörg Forbrig is managing director for the Transatlantic Trusts, GMF’s long-term programming to assist civil society and bolster democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. Based in GMF’s Berlin office, he leads the “Engaging Central Europe” program, the Fund for Belarus Democracy, and the “Ukraine: Resilience and Recovery” initiative. He also works closely with the Balkan Trust for Democracy and the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.  

Forbrig’s analytical and policy work focuses on the eastern-most member countries of the European Union and NATO, the EU's eastern and southeastern neighborhoods, and Russia. He has been published widely on democracy, civil society, and Central and Eastern European affairs, and is the author of Reclaiming Democracy (2007), Prospects for Democracy in Belarus (2006), and Revisiting Youth Political Participation (2005). He is also a regular contributor to major international media. 

Forbrig studied political science, sociology, and Eastern European affairs at universities in Germany, Poland, and Hungary. He holds a PhD in social and political sciences from the European University Institute in Florence and a master’s degree in political science from Central European University in Budapest. He speaks English, Russian, Polish, and Slovak in addition to his native German.

Media Mentions

by
Joerg Forbrig
“ I think the signatories of the ceasefire appeal are far removed from the reality of life in the war zone. ”
Translated from German
RND
by
Joerg Forbrig
“ While Ukraine is impressing with very smart tactics and strategies and organization, no one can deny that the Ukrainians have been taking hit after hit. Russia has a lot more to pour into this war than the Ukrainians have. ”
Reuters
by
Joerg Forbrig
“ Belarus may retain some attributes of independence but essentially it is controlled by the Kremlin. ”
Bloomberg
by
Joerg Forbrig
“ In my opinion, Belarus could develop very successfully and quickly if it was freed of this domestic occupation of power by Lukashenko and the external occupation of power by Russia. ”
Foreign Policy
by
Joerg Forbrig
“ By allowing Russian troops to enter Ukraine from the northern border, Lukashenko has effectively surrendered the sovereignty of Belarus. By now, his country is basically part of the Russian military space. It is a staging ground for the Russian army. ”
Time
by
Joerg Forbrig
“ Russian troops could try to gain control of a very large part of Ukraine, which will include those territories that would make a land corridor between the between the three territories they control already. ”
Reuters

Featured Work