Semyon Kuznetsov

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Lore & Background

Gluzman was born in Kyiv on 10 September 1946 to a close-knit Jewish family. His father was doctor of medical sciences Fischel Gluzman (1904–1987). In 1968, he graduated from the Kyiv Medical Institute. After graduation, Gluzman started working in Ukrainian psychiatric hospitals and was offered a position at the Dnipropetrovsk Special Psychiatric Hospital in a city not far from the Black Sea. He was the first psychiatrist in the Soviet Union to openly oppose Soviet abuse of psychiatry against dissenters. In 1971, Gluzman wrote an in-absentia psychiatric report on General Petro Hryhorenko, who spoke against the human rights abuses in the Soviet Union. Gluzman came to the conclusion that Hryhorenko was mentally sane and had been taken to mental hospitals for political reasons. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Gluzman was forced to serve seven years in a labor camp and three years in Siberian exile for defending Hryhorenko against the charge of insanity. On 28 November 1977, Amnesty International added Gluzman to its list of 92 members of the medical profession who were imprisoned for their political beliefs. While in prison, Gluzman and fellow inmate Vladimir Bukovsky jointly wrote A Manual on Psychiatry for Dissidents, published in Russian, English, French, Italian, German, and Danish. In the 1980s, Gluzman (who was Jewish) turned down offers to migrate to Israel by 'people sent from American synagogues' and even Soviet officials.

In Their Own Story

The water was black and heavy, tasting of metal and death. Semyon adjusted his mask, the glass fogging slightly before clearing again. Below him, the tunnel stretched into an impenetrable darkness where the radiation meters screamed like dying birds. He signaled to his partner, a silent nod that passed between men who understood there was no turning back. With a deep breath that felt like inhaling ash, he kicked off the concrete floor, descending toward the valve that stood between the world and total annihilation.

Reader's Guide

Semyon Kuznetsov is portrayed as the stoic leader of the three divers sent to prevent a secondary nuclear disaster. Unlike the politicians or scientists debating theories above ground, his arc is purely physical and immediate: survive long enough to turn a wheel. He possesses no superpowers, only the specialized training of a Soviet naval diver and an immense capacity for endurance.

His defining moment occurs in the flooded tunnels beneath Reactor No. 4, where he must manually open valves while exposed to radiation levels that should be instantly fatal. The narrative emphasizes his focus; despite the Geiger counters screaming warnings of imminent death, he remains calm, methodically completing the task before being pulled out.

While the series does not explicitly detail his long-term fate in the same way it does for other characters like Legasov or Dyatlov, the implication is that he survived the immediate mission but likely suffered from severe radiation sickness. His character serves as a symbol of the unnamed heroes who sacrificed their health and lives to contain the disaster.

Did You Know?

• Gluzman was the first psychiatrist in the Soviet Union to openly oppose Soviet abuse of psychiatry against dissenters.
• In 1971, he wrote an in-absentia psychiatric report declaring General Petro Hryhorenko mentally sane, leading to Gluzman's own imprisonment.
• While in prison, Gluzman co-wrote 'A Manual on Psychiatry for Dissidents' with fellow inmate Vladimir Bukovsky.
• Gluzman turned down offers to migrate to Israel in the 1980s, even from Soviet officials.
• He was honored with the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry in 2008.

The Dissident Psychiatrist

Semyon Gluzman stands as a towering figure in medical ethics, distinguished as the first psychiatrist within the Soviet Union to publicly challenge the state's systematic abuse of psychiatry against political opponents. Born into a Jewish family in Kyiv in 1946 and trained at the Kyiv Medical Institute, he initially worked in Ukrainian psychiatric facilities before his conscience compelled him to act. In 1971, he courageously authored an in-absentia report declaring General Petro Hryhorenko mentally sane, exposing that Hryhorenko's confinement was purely political retribution for speaking against human rights violations. This defiance came at a steep personal cost; Gluzman spent seven years in labor camps and three additional years in Siberian exile during the late 1970s and early 1980s. His imprisonment drew international attention, leading Amnesty International to list him among medical professionals jailed for their beliefs. Even while incarcerated, he refused offers to emigrate to Israel, choosing instead to remain and fight for justice within his homeland.

A Manual for Resistance

While enduring the harsh realities of Soviet incarceration, Gluzman collaborated with fellow political prisoner Vladimir Bukovsky to produce a seminal work that would become a lifeline for dissidents: 'A Manual on Psychiatry for Dissidents.' Written jointly inside the prison system, this guide was designed to help activists recognize and defend against the weaponization of psychiatric diagnoses by authorities. The manuscript achieved remarkable global reach, being published in Russian, English, French, Italian, German, and Danish between 1975 and 1976. It served not only as a practical defense tool but also as a powerful piece of samizdat literature that exposed the mechanisms of political terror to the outside world. The manual was dedicated to victims of psychiatric abuse, such as Lyonya Plyushch, and was widely disseminated through human rights organizations like Amnesty International. This collaborative effort underscored Gluzman's commitment to using his medical expertise not for state control, but for the liberation and protection of those targeted by totalitarian regimes.

Architect of Reform

Following his release from exile and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, Gluzman dedicated his post-prison life to rebuilding Ukraine's mental health infrastructure on ethical foundations. In 1991, he founded the Ukrainian Psychiatric Association (UPA), establishing it as an independent voice capable of addressing civil rights violations by medical administrators. His leadership extended beyond professional associations; he served as the director of the International Medical Rehabilitation Center for Victims of War and Totalitarian Regimes and co-chaired the Babi Yar Committee, linking his psychiatric work with broader human rights advocacy. He also held a position on the Council of Experts under Ukraine's Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. His contributions were recognized internationally when he received the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry in 2008, honoring his exceptional courage and adherence to humanism during the reform of mental health services. Additionally, he was named a Distinguished Fellow by the American Psychiatric Association and an Honorary Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Scholarship and Legacy

Beyond his activism, Gluzman maintained a rigorous academic career, coauthoring numerous research papers that addressed critical public health issues in Ukraine. His scholarly work covered diverse topics ranging from the long-term health consequences and risk perceptions following the Chernobyl disaster to studies on suicidal ideation, heavy alcohol consumption, nicotine dependence, and intimate partner aggression. These publications reflected his deep understanding of how societal trauma manifests in individual mental health. Gluzman passed away on February 16, 2026, at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy defined by unwavering moral integrity. He is remembered not only as a skilled medical doctor with an M.D. qualification but as a dissident who refused to compromise his ethics under pressure. His life story remains a testament to the power of individual conscience in confronting state oppression and reshaping professional standards for future generations.