Roofers Angela Nicolaou And Ivan Kuznetsovalso known as Vanya Beerkusclimbed the spire without belay Empire State Building in New York, hung a banner and held an engagement party at an altitude of about 443 meters.
After the descent, they were detained by the police, and now the couple faces serious legal consequences.
The incident occurred July 1. The couple made their way into the closed technical area of the skyscraper and climbed to the antenna located significantly above the observation platforms. According to Associated Pressthe roofers stayed at the top for some time, took photos, shot videos and unfurled a large black banner.
The banner included the following phrase: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace” “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world finds peace.” After that, Ivan Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed marriage to Angela. Judging by the footage, she accepted it.
We are not talking about the roof, but about the closed part of the antenna
It is important to clarify: this was not about a tourist site, but about closed technical design at the top of the building. The total height of the Empire State Building including spire and antenna is 1,454 feetthat is approximately 443.2 meters. The observation deck is located much lower.
According to ABC Newswhile they were at the top, the police sent a helicopter to the building, and the observation deck was temporarily closed to visitors. A representative of the Empire State Building said that there was no threat to tenants or guests of the building, but the action was unauthorized.
Police laid eight charges
According to the police, Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Kuznetsov were charged eight charges. Among them:
- burglary — illegal entry with the qualification of breaking;
- reckless endangerment — creating a threat to life and health;
- criminal mischief — intentionally causing damage to property;
- criminal trespass — illegal entry into private territory;
- violation of a local law — violation of local law;
- criminal tampering — unlawful interference;
- disorderly conduct — violation of public order;
- possession of burglar’s tools – storage of burglary tools.
This is the list of accusations that leads ABC News citing the NYPD.
What New York Law Says
In New York, there is a special rule prohibiting anyone from climbing onto the outside of tall structures without permission. According to New York Administrative Code § 10-167buildings, bridges, towers, cranes and other structures with a height of more than 50 feetthat is approximately 15.2 meters.
Therefore, the frequently encountered wording about “the ban on climbing above 15 meters” generally conveys the meaning, but it is legally more accurate to talk about 50 feet and a ban on climbing the outer part of the structure without the owner’s permission.
Do they face prison and deportation?
Yes, such risks existbut it is important to describe them carefully. The violation of the city’s anti-climbing law itself can be classified as a misdemeanor, but in this case we are talking not only about it, but about several charges at once, including more serious articles such as burglary and reckless endangerment.
Therefore, to say that the couple “definitely only faces up to a year in prison” would be too simplistic. Their future fate will depend on what charges the prosecutor’s office retains, whether there will be a plea deal and how the court evaluates the circumstances of the case.
Regarding deportationthen it is not declared automatically. But if we are talking about non-US citizens and a criminal case, then in the event of a conviction or certain immigration consequences, the question of deportation may indeed arise.
Who are Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Kuznetsov
The couple has long been known in the world of roofing and extreme photography. Angela Nikolaou and Ivan Kuznetsov became famous for their photographs and videos from the roofs of skyscrapers, towers and cranes in different countries. They filmed climbs in Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Shanghai and other cities.
A Netflix documentary about them was released in 2024. “Skywalkers: A Love Story”dedicated to their relationship and dangerous climbs. As noted by the American media, the current stunt on the Empire State Building was not involved in the filming of the film.
Why did the story cause such resonance?
On the one hand, the Internet quickly turned the episode into a viral “world’s craziest engagement party.” Videos and photographs taken by TV channel helicopters, police and the roofers themselves went viral on social networks and received millions of views.
On the other hand, for the authorities this is not a romantic scene, but dangerous and illegal entry to one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world. Such actions create a risk not only for the participants themselves, but also for emergency responders who have to conduct an arrest operation at high altitude.
Main result: A marriage proposal on top of the Empire State Building did take place, but ended not with a beautiful ending, but with arrest, criminal charges and possible immigration consequences for both participants.
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