Ion Ciubuc, who held the post of Prime Minister in 1997-1999, died in the morning of January 29 at the age of 74.

Serafim Urechean, ex-mayor of Chisinau and ex-chairman of the Court of Auditors, has told IPN that Ion Ciubuc was a man of rare decency and a very hardworking person. As the family said, the ex-Premier will most probably be buried on January 31.

Ion Ciubuc was born in Hadarauti village of Ocnita village on May 29, 1943. In 1970, he graduated from the Odessa Institute of Agriculture, obtaining the qualification of specialist in agrarian economy. Later he also got the scientific title of Doctor of Economy.

In 1990-1991, Ion Ciubuc was first deputy minister economy. Since March 1991 until September 1991, he served as first deputy prime minister and the Government’s standing representative to the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR.

Between September 1992 and April 1994, he held the post of first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Moldova. Later, in April – December 1994, he was first deputy minister of economy of the Republic of Moldova.

By the decision of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova of December 27, 1994, Ion Ciubuc was named chairman of the Court of Auditors.

Between January 24, 1997 and February 1, 1999, Ion Ciubuc served as Prime Minister of Moldova, in two successive governments. On February 1, 1999, Ion Ciubuc resigned from the post of Prime Minister and the first government installed by the center-right coalition Alliance for Democracy and Reforms had thus to leave.