Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, known as Ivan Beerkus, who climbed to the top of the Empire State Building to get engaged, were released following the first court hearing in New York City. Nevertheless, the criminal case against the couple is still underway. Kursiv LifeStyle explains how the couple is connected to Kazakhstan.
The court ruled to release the newlyweds until the next hearing, scheduled for Aug. 24. They are facing accusations of burglary, criminal trespass and r eckless endangerment. They left the courthouse holding hands and briefly told reporters, «We love New York.»
Nikolau and Beerkus have long been stars among fans of extreme photography. For nearly ten years, they have traveled the world together, climbing the planet’s tallest buildings. Along the way, the rooftoppers have conquered the Eiffel Tower, the Shanghai Tower, Hong Kong’s skyscrapers and dozens of other high-rise structures.
But few people know that the couple has a special connection to Kazakhstan. In 2022, Nikolau and Beerkus moved to Almaty for several months. They later said, on more than one occasion, that the city had come to feel almost like home, calling it one of the most hospitable places they had ever lived in.
It was in Almaty that the rooftoppers, together with photographer Alexander Kuznetsov, filmed a viral panoramic video atop one of the towers of the Nurly Tau complex. According to them, they chose the building for its unusual architecture and the sweeping views of the Ile Alatau mountain range.
During their time in Almaty, the couple also filmed footage for a documentary about their extreme climbs. In 2024, «Skywalkers: A Love Story» premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Netflix soon acquired the distribution rights.
Previously, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that the rooftoppers climbed to the top of one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers — the Empire State Building in New York — to get engaged. Before the proposal, at a height of 443 meters, the couple unfurled a black banner bearing the quote: «When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.»
