Libyan authorities denied Bulgarian medic Zdravko Georgiev the right to leave the country.

Georgiev was put on trial together with the five nurses sentenced to death for intentional HIV infection but was set free.

The appeal of Georgiev’s acquittal was the reason for the denial, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said. Libya’s prosecution appeals the court verdict to discharge Georgiev of illegal currency import accusations.

Georgiev was acquitted on May 6 2004, but the five Bulgarian nurses, were sentenced to death. The verdicts of the nurses were confirmed on December 19 2006 after a re-trial.

Georgiev is also husband of Kristiana Vulcheva, one of the sentenced nurses.

Bulgaria and the international community condemned the death sentences and are trying to change the outcome of the trial.