A Russian couple famous for death-defying climbs faced multiple criminal charges Wednesday afternoon after scaling the spire of the Empire State Building to unfurl a banner and conduct an apparent marriage proposal. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, also known as Ivan Beerkus, were taken into custody by New York City police following the high-altitude stunt at the 1,454-foot structure.
Details of the banner display
According to reporting by ABC News, the pair reached the top of the building's spire on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, where they unfurled a black banner featuring white lettering. The banner displayed a quote attributed to Jimi Hendrix: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." Police confirmed that the banner has since been recovered.
Police response and building evacuation
The NYPD reported that the climbers remained atop the skyscraper for several minutes while cameras recorded the event. During the ascent and descent on the spire, an NYPD helicopter was deployed to the scene, and officials were forced to clear the building's observation deck of all visitors as police arrived to manage the situation.
Marriage proposal and social media
Following their descent from the spire, Kuznetsov appeared to propose to Nikolau. The couple used social media to chronicle the climb in real-time, posting close-up images of the engagement ring and the proposal itself from the top of the tower.
List of criminal charges filed
As a result of the climb, both individuals face a long list of criminal charges. According to police, the charges include burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, violation of a local law, criminal tampering, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar's tools.
Empire State Building official response
The Empire State Building management addressed the incident in a statement to ABC News, noting that there was no danger posed to the building's tenants or visitors at any time during the climb. While the observation deck had been temporarily closed, it was reopened later on Wednesday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the Empire State Building added that while the event caused a disruption, the observation deck remains "a practical way for the most memorable marriage proposals" in New York City. The building's official rules do prohibit the use of masks and costumes on the premises.
Climbers' background and climbing history
Nikolau and Kuznetsov, also referred to as Beerkus, are established figures in the extreme climbing community and have built a significant online following through their social media presence. Their digital content frequently features photos of the pair posing at the edges of massive skyscrapers and hugging or kissing at extreme heights.
The couple was previously featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which documented their ascent of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur. That climb took them to a height of 2,227 feet on the world's second-tallest building.
At this time, investigators have not yet determined exactly how the couple managed to gain access to the metal structure that services the spire, the broadcast antenna, and the red anti-collision beacon at the top of the landmark. Both Nikolau and Kuznetsov were seen being escorted out of a Manhattan police station following their arrest.
