The Constitutional Court legalized the seat of MP of Mihail Barbulat, who was a substitute candidate on the list of the Communist Party, the court’s secretary general Rodica Secrieru has told IPN. The seat fell vacant after the death of Zinaida Chistruga in the middle of September.

Until recently, Mihail Barbulat served as head of the European Integration and International Cooperation Division of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. In his statement to the Central Election Commission, the lawmaker promised to resign from all the salaried posts he held.

In 2001-2005 Mihail Barbulat, 42, worked as the head of the Protocol Service of the President’s Staff. In 2005 he was named Moldova’s Ambassador to Turkey, while in 2009 he was appointed as Minister of Culture and Tourism in the Grecheanyi 2 Government.

Mihail Barbulat speaks English and Russian fluently. He is married and has two children.