Empire State Building climbers face prison and possible deportation to Russia

The climb and the proposal

Ivan Kuznetsov and Angelina Nikolau, two Russian citizens, reached the top of the Empire State Building in July 2026, according to Il Messaggero and Mediafax. Dressed in black, wearing helmets and with their faces covered, the pair got past the building's security and reached an area closed to visitors. Once at the summit they unfurled a banner with a message about love and peace, and Il Messaggero reports that helicopters flying over Manhattan filmed them suspended hundreds of metres above the street. Fanpage reports that the pair had entered the building as ordinary tourists, hid from security, spent the night inside and climbed to the highest point the next morning. On the way down, Kuznetsov knelt on one of the lower platforms and asked Nikolau to marry him, according to ANSA, which adds that the couple are known for daring climbs and appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.

Charges after the arrest

Both were arrested by the New York City Police Department after the climb, Tgcom24 reports. The charges listed in the reports include burglary, criminal trespass, endangering public safety, property damage, tampering, disturbing the public peace and possession of burglary tools. Fanpage adds unauthorised climbing to that list. These are accusations, and the case has not reached a verdict. Il Messaggero reports that a conviction on the most serious counts could also cost the couple the right to remain in the United States, on top of any prison sentence.

Plea talks and the next hearing

Their lawyer, Noam Biale, told Fox News that the Manhattan district attorney's office had rejected a plea deal for lesser offences. According to Fanpage, the office had earlier offered a plea to a minor offence, which the couple were prepared to accept, but at the latest hearing on 12 November prosecutors said they would pursue serious charges. Biale said that if his clients were expelled to Russia they would face devastating consequences, and that the defence is ready to fight the case. The matter is now adjourned to 28 January 2027, when the next hearing is scheduled.

The couple's response

In an interview given on Wednesday, 11 November, the couple told Fanpage they were prepared to die for their art. In a statement posted on their social media channels, they said they had not broken or damaged anything at the Empire State Building, contrary to some media reports. The couple's own account of the climb therefore differs from the charges of damage and burglary the reports describe, and the court will decide between them.

What comes next

The case returns to court on 28 January 2027, and the outcome will determine whether the couple face prison, deportation or both. The timeline below lists the dates reported so far.