From the top of the world to a New York City jail cell.
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The couple who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building this week were criminally charged on Thursday in connection with scaling the New York City skyscraper.
Angelina Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, were each charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief and an additional charge related to climbing the nearly 1,500 foot tall building on Wednesday, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The couple scaled the building dressed in dark outfits and masks, then displayed a flag on the antenna reading: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Both pleaded not guilty. Their case is not bail eligible so they will remain free as under supervised release rather than in custody as they await a potential trial.
The pair were swarmed by journalists as they left the Downtown Manhattan courthouse Thursday morning, hand in hand. “We’ll answer later. Right now we’re not ready. We just need to relax,” Kuznetsov said to a flurry of questions.
The couple spent the night in a jail. Kuznetsov said his cell was cold, but that “the people are nice there.” Asked about the national attention their stunt had drawn, he replied simply: “It’s great.” Before heading into the subway, the two kissed for photographers.
Their attorney, Jason Krinsky, said in a phone call that his clients did not pose a danger to the public, noting that the wind speeds were “very low” at the time. He also cited a statement from the Empire State building on the matter which said there was “no time danger to tenants, visitors, and Empire State Building Observation Deck guests.”
Krinsky said the couple would return to their home in New Jersey. Nikolau told reporters they had moved there just last week after previously living in New York City — including in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
According to the complaint, Empire State Building’s security alerted police at approximately 11:15 a.m. to a “possible breach of security at the antenna located atop” of the building. Reaching the antenna requires passing through several restricted areas, “including the 103rd floor, which is accessible only to individuals who have a key card enabling access to that area via a secure door located on the 102nd floor.”
Police found that a lock on a security door to the 104th floor— which leads to the broadcast antenna — had been broken, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage, the complaint states. It also notes that the antenna emits high-frequency radio signals powerful enough to harm the human body, and that authorities had to power it down before members of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit could approach the couple, a process that took roughly 30 minutes. Officers then climbed 1,250 feet to reach them.
According to police, Nikolau and Kuznetsov “persisted in remaining on or near the broadcast antenna, from which they could not be easily extricated, and in doing so they had placed the officers in a highly dangerous situation,” the complaint states.
Krinsky declined to say whether the couple expected to be arrested. Prosecutors said in court that Kuznetsov told police the stunt was meant to “do something special for his engagement.” Atop the building, he appeared to get down on one knee and propose; photos Nikolau later posted on Instagram show her wearing a ring. She told reporters Thursday that police had since confiscated it.
The couple, originally from Russia, were the subject of Netflix’s 2024 documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” under the names Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus. Together, they have nearly 2 million followers on Instagram. They are due back in court on August 24.
