Russian skyscraper couple faces eight charges after Empire State Building climb

A Russian couple known for their daring skyscraper climbs, Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, now face eight charges after scaling the Empire State Building and unfurling a banner. Police arrested the pair on July 1 after they ascended the iconic New York City landmark without authorization.

At the summit, the couple, dressed in black and with faces obscured, displayed a banner reading “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” They then became engaged atop the building.

The charges against them include reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, trespassing, and possession of burglary tools. Beerkus and Nikolau, who are based in East Orange, New Jersey, are known for climbing tall structures without safety ropes, a feat documented in the 2024 film "Skywalkers: A Love Story."

Their previous climbs include the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur. In a 2024 interview, they mentioned their recent move to New York City and their intention to conquer more buildings. The Empire State Building's social media account responded humorously, noting that the building offers proposal options on its observation decks.

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace