Couple Arrested After Scaling Empire State Building for Proposal Stunt

Two Russian nationals, Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, were arraigned in New York City on Thursday following their arrest for allegedly climbing the Empire State Building. The couple staged a proposal at the building's summit, unfurling a peace banner during the stunt. They face multiple charges, including burglary and reckless endangerment.

The pair was apprehended on Wednesday after reaching the building's 1,454-foot spire, where they reportedly kissed and displayed a banner reading, 'When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.' They spent the night in separate cells before their court appearance.

Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who reside in New Jersey, are known for their involvement in 'rooftopping,' a practice where individuals scale tall buildings for photography and video. Their actions were monitored by a New York Police Department drone and helicopter, leading to their arrest by the department's emergency service unit.

The Empire State Building's owners issued a statement encouraging couples to pursue traditional engagement methods at the observation deck, emphasizing safety and legality.