Russian couple scales Empire State Building for proposal, arrested on descent
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbed the iconic New York skyscraper, unfurled a peace banner, and Beerkus proposed. The pair were taken into custody by the NYPD right after they descended.
The climb
On Wednesday, July 1, Angela Nikolau (33) and Ivan Beerkus (32) ascended to the antenna spire of the Empire State Building, reaching a height of roughly 443 metres (1,454 feet). Dressed in black and wearing masks, the Russian duo documented the unauthorised ascent on social media. No safety equipment was visible; details of how they gained access to the restricted spire remain unclear.
Proposal and banner
Once at the top, the pair unfurled a black banner reading, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." As they descended to a lower platform, Beerkus knelt and proposed to Nikolau. The couple embraced and kissed; Nikolau later posted photos of her engagement ring with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
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Law enforcement response
NYPD officers monitored the climb via helicopter and intercepted the pair after they stepped onto a lower platform. Body-camera footage released by the police shows an officer telling them, "You can’t be up here." Nikolau replied, "I’m fine," and confirmed she spoke Russian. Streets around the building were closed during the incident.
You can’t be up here.
Arrest and charges
Nikolau and Beerkus were arrested without incident. According to the NYPD, charges include burglary, reckless endangerment, vandalism, disorderly conduct, and possession of burglar’s tools. The Empire State Building called the episode an "unauthorised incident" and noted that the couple could have used the building’s official wedding package.
Who they are
Nikolau describes herself as a neo-artist working with extreme performance, and her previous rooftop exploits were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story. Beerkus, her partner in both life and stunts, has performed similar climbs in Chicago, San Francisco, Mexico, and Los Angeles. A bystander, Jonathan Roman, said it "was crazy… like being in a movie scene."
It was crazy… like being in a movie scene.
