Pair allegedly unfurled peace banner and kissed atop 1,454-foot spire
Two Russian nationals with a large online following who call themselves “rooftoppers” were arraigned in New York on Thursday on felony charges after authorities say they scaled the Empire State Building, unfurled a banner, and appeared to get engaged at the top of the landmark’s spire.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32 — who also uses the name Ivan Beerkus — were arrested Wednesday afternoon after climbing to the building’s 1,454-foot summit, according to police and court records. The pair, both dressed in black, unfolded a large flag and then kissed in what appeared to be a marriage proposal.
The NYPD tracked the climb using a department drone and helicopter before members of the elite emergency service unit, which handles high-altitude rescues, took the pair into custody. The couple have a large following on social media, according to reports.
On Thursday, the couple appeared at New York City Criminal Court in lower Manhattan, where they were charged with felony burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, according to the report. They also face misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools. The pair spent the night after their arrest in separate cells near the courthouse.
Nikolau and Kuznetsov are Russian nationals who share an address in New Jersey, records show. They are known in the underground thrill-seeking community for scaling skyscrapers and other tall structures to take photographs and video or make political statements.
The Empire State Building, which opened in 1931 and was the world’s tallest building at the time, remains one of New York’s most iconic landmarks. In a statement, the building’s owners noted that the observation deck offers a less dangerous route for marriage proposals.
“It is to be emphasized that the Empire State Building Observation Deck, atop the World’s Most Famous Building in the center of New York City, does offer a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals,” the statement said.