Couple Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, are engaged in plea discussions with Manhattan prosecutors over felony charges stemming from their July stunt scaling the Empire State Building. The pair appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, facing charges that include burglary and reckless endangerment.
Prosecutors stated that plea discussions are underway for the duo, who could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the current charges. The specifics of any potential plea deal have not yet been disclosed. The couple is scheduled to return to court on September 29.
The incident occurred on July 30, when Nikolau and Kuznetsov allegedly purchased tickets to the Empire State Building and hid overnight. They reportedly emerged from a hatch on the 102nd floor around 5 a.m. the following day and proceeded to climb the building's antenna. While scaling the structure, they unfurled a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” The event caused $2,000 in damage and required the building's broadcast antenna to be powered down, according to prosecutors.
Following their descent from the antenna, Kuznetsov, also known as Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus, proposed to Nikolau, who was wearing a black cat mask. The charges filed against them include burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of burglary tools, trespass, and criminal tampering.
Outside the courthouse on Monday, Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who wore decorative handcuffs, were observed engaging in a public display of affection. Nikolau also displayed the engagement ring she received during the proposal atop the landmark.
The couple's climb and proposal were documented in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.