Obituary : Semyon Gluzman (10 September 1946 – 16 February 2026)
With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Semen Fishelevych Gluzman — an outstanding Ukrainian psychiatrist, human rights defender, former dissident and political prisoner, thinker, and a man of unwavering dignity.
President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Ukraine (1991–2023), Director of the Ukrainian-American Human Rights Bureau (since 1990), member of the American Psychiatric Association (since 1979), the Royal College of Psychiatrists (since 1980), the Canadian Psychiatric Association (since 1981), and the German Society of Psychiatry and Neurology, Co-chair of the Babyn Yar Committee together with Myroslav Popovych and Ivan Dziuba.
In 1977, a psychiatric clinic in Saint-Denis (CAC Saint-Denis “Sémion Gluzman”) was named in his honor. In 1978, Amnesty International declared the Year of Semen Gluzman. In 1998–1999, he served as a United Nations human rights expert.
Co-author of the Law of Ukraine “On Psychiatric Care.” Laureate of the “Person of the Year – 1999” award as “Human Rights Defender of the Year.” During Ukraine’s independence, he became one of the country’s moral authorities in psychiatry and human rights advocacy. He consistently advocated for reform of psychiatric care, protection of patients’ rights, and overcoming stigma related to mental health. His “uncomfortable truth” was always a voice of conscience — direct, reasoned,
and uncompromising toward injustice. He will remain a model of professional integrity and civic responsibility. For Ukrainian society, he symbolizes resistance to abuse and proof that even in the darkest times one can preserve inner freedom.
May his memory live on in his work, books, public speeches, and in the lives of thousands for whom he was a teacher, friend, and moral guide. Our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who knew and respected him.
Forever in our hearts
The obituary has been translated into several languages and can be found here.
Irina Pinchuk, Professor, MD, PhD,
Director, Institute of Psychiatry of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,
President of the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association,
Director, International Technology Transfer Center - Ukraine
Head of ISSUP Ukraine National Chapter
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