BUCHAREST, Romania-A Romanian noncommissioned military officer and a Bulgarian citizen have been arrested on espionage and treason charges for allegedly passing classified information to Ukraine, authorities said Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Floricel Achim handed over classified military information from 2002 to 2007 to his Bulgarian friend, Marinov Zikolov. The classified information included maps, military technical information and details on radars.

Achim, 41, took the information "at random, on a large scale" from computers, a statement said. His specific rank was not immediately available, but the statement said he worked in an archives department.

Prosecutors said Zikolov gave the information to a representative of Ukraine in Bucharest. Romania is a member of NATO, while Ukraine is not.

No comment was immediately available from the Ukrainian Embassy. Last week, President Traian Basescu canceled a visit to Ukraine without specifying the reason.

Prosecutors said Achim has admitted to the charges, allegedly saying he did it because he had "a precarious financial situation."

Achim's lawyer Simnona Tache said she would challenge the charges. She claimed that prosecutors had not found damaging evidence on a memory stick he had or on his home computer.

Prosecutors said he received up to $1,000 (€795) each time for the documents. The Defense Ministry said the information he handed over "was unauthorized dissemination which was of the nature to endanger national security."

The two were arrested on Saturday and will appear before a military tribunal on Thursday. But Zikolov has requested a postponement so he can hire a lawyer.

If convicted, they could face a maximum of 25 years on the espionage charges, and Achim could face life imprisonment if he is convicted of high treason.