New york city: Russian roofers Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, known from the Netflix documentary 'Skywalkers: A Love Story,' are facing significant legal challenges after climbing the Empire State Building. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office informed RIA Novosti that the couple illegally accessed three restricted floors and damaged property to reach the skyscraper's spire.
According to Ghana News Agency, the couple faces three serious criminal charges and one administrative offense, which could result in a combined sentence of more than 20 years in prison. The attorney's office provided a police officer's testimony, which is part of the criminal case. The testimony indicated that the couple accessed the 102nd and 103rd floors without the necessary access card and broke a lock on the 104th floor, leading to the building's broadcast antenna. The repair cost for the damage is estimated to be around $2,000.
The incident occurred on a Wednesday when Nikolau and Kuznetsov bypassed security to climb to the top of the Empire State Building. Once there, they unfurled a banner with a peace slogan, and Kuznetsov proposed to Nikolau. The couple's actions have drawn significant attention due to their high-profile documentary appearances.
A preliminary hearing took place on Thursday, where both Nikolau and Kuznetsov pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were released from custody without bail, and the next court hearing is scheduled for August 24.