Two Russian rooftoppers who staged an apparent marriage proposal atop the Empire State Building’s spire were arraigned in New York on Thursday on charges including reckless endangerment, burglary, and criminal mischief. Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, were arrested Wednesday after scaling the 1,454-foot skyscraper, unfurling a peace banner, and kissing. They spent their first night of engagement in separate cells near the New York City criminal court in lower Manhattan.
Charges and Background
The couple faces a slew of charges: burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools. They are Russian nationals with a shared address in New Jersey, according to records. Kuznetsov, also known as Ivan Beerkus, has over 500,000 Instagram followers; Nikolau has 1.8 million. Both are prominent in the underground activity of “rooftopping,” where urban outlaws scale tall buildings for photos, videos, or political statements.
The Stunt
Around midday Wednesday, the pair reached the Empire State Building’s summit, dressed in all black, and unfolded a large black flag reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” Investigators are probing how they accessed the final stages of the landmark, which opened in 1931 and featured in King Kong (1933). Their stunt was monitored by a New York Police Department drone and helicopter; they were arrested by the elite emergency service unit specializing in high-altitude rescues.
Impact and Response
The Empire State Building’s owners issued a statement emphasizing that the observation deck offers a safer, more orthodox way for marriage proposals. The couple’s arrest follows similar adventures in China and California. Their court appearance was scheduled for 9 a.m. EST Thursday.
