Semyon Gluzman, Renowned Soviet-Era Dissident and Human Rights Defender, Dies at 79

Funeral Arrangements Announced for Human Rights Icon Semyon Gluzman

According to Главком: Semyon Fishilevich Gluzman, a prominent psychiatrist, human rights activist, and former Soviet political prisoner, died on February 16, 2026, at the age of 79. He passed away at the Oleksandrivska Hospital in Kyiv. His death is a profound loss for the human rights community in Ukraine and internationally, where he was revered for his lifelong dedication to freedom and dissent.

Gluzman first rose to prominence in 1971 for conducting an independent psychiatric assessment in the case of General Petro Grigorenko, which contradicted the official Soviet diagnosis. For his human rights activism, he was convicted and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment and exile in the Soviet Gulag system. His courageous work in defending freedom of speech and human rights earned him widespread recognition far beyond Ukraine's borders.

Funeral and Burial Details

A funeral service for Semyon Gluzman will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv. Attendees are asked to gather on the central alley near the cemetery's administrative building beginning at 12:45 PM. The farewell ceremony will last until 1:00 PM. He will be buried in plot number 42, with a shuttle bus provided from the administration building to the gravesite.

His daughter, Roksolana Khmara, has requested that those wishing to pay their respects dress warmly for the outdoor ceremony.

"He would not have wanted you to catch a cold. We ask that you refrain from ordering wreaths. If you wish, please bring fresh flowers,"

she stated. Roksolana also emphasized her father's legacy, saying,

"We will say goodbye to our father, Dr. Gluzman, the boy from the Andersen fairy tale who said aloud that the emperor had no clothes."

Semyon Gluzman leaves an indelible mark on Ukraine's history, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who continue the struggle for freedom and human rights. His passing represents a significant loss for Ukrainian society, which knew him as a symbol of the fight for human dignity and free expression. His dedication to defending rights, both domestically and on the international stage, cemented his status as a pivotal figure in the human rights movement. The farewell ceremony will serve as a reminder of his immense contribution and the vital importance of carrying his work forward for future generations.