Russian roofers Angela Nikolaou and Vanya Birkus, who climbed the spire of the Empire State Building in New York on Wednesday, face eight charges. According to local legislation, they could face up to a year in prison and a fine of $1 thousand. Previously, they promised RTVI.US not to climb on the roofs of the metropolis.
According to ABC News, the couple is charged with burglary, endangering life or limb, malicious damage to property, unlawful entry, unlawful entry, disorderly conduct, possession of burglary tools and violation of local laws.
NBC New York sources familiar with the situation said investigators and Empire State Building security are looking into how Nicolaou and Birkus managed to bypass security and enter the building. The couple were wearing masks – as ABC News notes, the skyscraper's rules prohibit the wearing of masks.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch published a video of the rooftoppers' arrest. The building remained open during the incident, but nearby streets were closed.
In New York, two activists climbed the spire of the Empire State Building and hung a banner with the words: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, peace will come.”
The incident caused a stir in the city. As eyewitnesses told RTVI US, a crowd of people had gathered around, but the passage to the tower… pic.twitter.com/Jqb7mqCSri
— RTVI US (@RTVIUS) July 1, 2026
Judging by the photos posted on social networks of extreme sports enthusiasts, Birkus proposed to his companion on the spire of the tower. At the same time, the couple unfurled a banner with the words “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world will know peace.” Apparently, this is a slightly distorted pacifist slogan attributed to Jimi Hendrix (in the original – When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace).
An RTVI.US source familiar with the couple reported that the action was anti-war in nature. Birkus and Nikolaou did not comment on the purpose of the performance on their social networks.
@angela_nikolau/Instagram
Let us note that last year, in an interview with RTVI.US, Angelau and Birkus noted that in New York you cannot climb on roofs and that the city’s police chief follows them on social networks. The couple is currently unavailable for comment.
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous skyscrapers in New York, it was built in 1930-1931 and has 102 floors. The height of the building with its spire is 443.2 m. For almost 40 years after its construction, it was the tallest building in the world, until the World Trade Center buildings, destroyed during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, were erected in New York. Then the Empire State Building again became the tallest in New York for more than 10 years – but no longer in the world.
In 2024, Netflix produced the film Skywalkers: A Love Story about Angelau and Birkus. After the incident at the Empire State Building, the company posted an excerpt from the film on its social networks.
“When you fell, I lifted you. When I fell, you lifted me.”
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus climbing the second-tallest building in the world in SKYWALKERS: A LOVE STORY (2024). pic.twitter.com/AJNc6A2QRe
— Netflix (@netflix) July 1, 2026
