A Russian couple who made headlines after scaling New York City’s Empire State Building and getting engaged at the top of the skyscraper are now facing the possibility of deportation from the United States.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, climbed the iconic building in July, reaching the top of its 200-foot spire. The couple unfurled a flag carrying the message, “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace”. Moments later, Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolau, turning their dangerous climb into a viral engagement moment.However, what initially appeared to be a romantic stunt has now turned into a serious legal and immigration battle. The Moscow-born couple were reportedly negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors to resolve the criminal charges against them. But the agreement fell apart after an email from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, according to Fox News.
The two appeared in a New York criminal court on Thursday, November 12, amid growing fears that their case could lead to deportation. Nikolau was visibly emotional during the hearing as the possibility of being forced to leave the country became increasingly real.
“We didn’t damage any property. We didn’t intend to put anyone in danger. We just wanted to send a message of love, and we’re ready to defend ourselves,” Kuznetsov told reporters.
“We wanted to share a message of peace. With so much pain in the world today, we wanted to create a performance to stay in the people’s hearts,” Nikolau added.
Their attorney, Noam Biale, said the couple had initially accepted a prosecution offer to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges. In return, the agreement would have protected them from what he described as “catastrophic immigration consequences”. However, prosecutors withdrew the offer the night before the court hearing.
READ: High-rise proposal: Couple scales Empire State Building to unfurl peace banner (
“If sent back to Russia, Mr Kuznetsov will almost certainly be sent to fight in the war in Ukraine and Ms Nikolau may be jailed for her artistic expression,” Biale said.
The couple’s relationship and their shared passion for extreme climbing were previously featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024.
Following their July stunt, police identified the climbers as Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, also known as Ivan Beerkus. They were charged with felony burglary, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. The charges also included misdemeanor counts of possessing burglar’s tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
The couple reportedly climbed the skyscraper without sustaining any injuries. Authorities have not clarified exactly how they reached the top of the building, which stands 1,250 feet tall and ranks as the sixth-tallest building in the United States.