Ștefan Urâtu studied at the Veterinary and Zootechnics College from Căușeni, Grigoriopol rayon (1966–1967). He carried out his compulsory military service in the Soviet army (1969–1972), in Budapest, Hungary. In 1977, he graduated from the State Pedagogical Institute from Tiraspol, the department of physics and mathematics. Between 1988–1992, Ștefan Urâtu was pro-dean of the department of physics and mathematics of the Tiraspol State University. He has published over 30 scientific articles in the area of physics of metals and applying the radioactive isotopes.[1]
Ștefan Urâtu was a Popular Front of Moldova member of the Republican Council in the Tiraspol section between 1989–1992. He was politically detained together with the "Ilașcu Group" between 2 June and 21 August 1992.
In 1990, he founds the first non-governmental association — the Committee for Human Rights from Transnistria in the Tiraspol-based section of the Popular Front. Between 1993–2009, he was the chairman of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (elected in 1993, 1998, 2006).[2]
^"Componenţa Comisiei" (in Romanian). Comisia Electorală Centrală a Republicii Moldova. Retrieved 19 July 2013. Dr. Ştefan Urîtu - Vicepreşedintele Comisiei Electorale Centrale
