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Russian Artist Angela Nikolau and Partner arrested for climbing Empire State Building

Thursday, July 2, 2026
Russian Artist Angela Nikolau and Partner arrested for climbing Empire State Building

The couple arrested by the NYPD for climbing the Empire State Building in Manhattan has been identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, who starred in the Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story" in 2024 about their rooftop climbs.

From the tip of the skyscraper's needle, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov hung a large banner inscribed with: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."

Kuznetsov got down on one knee and proposed to Nikolau, presenting a ring. They kissed before descending.

Nikolau describes herself as a 'Neo-artist working with extreme performance, visual art and projects with global reach.'