Bulgaria's specialised criminal court acquitted on Monday alleged drug lord Zlatomir Ivanov, known as Zlatko Baretata, of two charges which had been brought against him.

Ivanov, who had been accused of heading an organised crime group involved in the distribution of drugs and unlawfully appropriating a Mercedes E 500, was acquitted of both charges.

Baretata and nine others had been accused of participating in an organised crime group involved in the distribution of drugs on the southern Black Sea coast, Sofia and Kazanlak.

Only four of them were convicted of participating in the drug ring, while the rest were acquitted of this charge, but were found guilty on other charges.

The ruling of the court can be appealed before the appellate specialised criminal court within the next fifteen days.

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court of Cassation convicted Ivanov on another charge brought against him for heading organised crime group involved in the distribution of drugs.