{"id":29140,"date":"2026-07-02T07:47:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/?p=29140"},"modified":"2026-07-02T07:47:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T07:47:14","slug":"russian-couple-climbed-the-empire-state-building-to-get-engaged-then-were-arrested-why-it-remains-new-yorks-most-iconic-tourist-attraction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/?p=29140","title":{"rendered":"Russian couple climbed the Empire State Building to get engaged, then were arrested; why it remains New York&#8217;s most iconic tourist attraction"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132132335,imgsize-172683,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/new-york39s-most-iconic-tourist-attraction.jpg\" alt=\"Russian couple climbed the Empire State Building to get engaged, then were arrested; why it remains New York's most iconic tourist attraction\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not every proposal has a happy ending and this incident is a perfect proof. For most couples, getting engaged atop New York City&#8217;s iconic Empire State Building means getting permissions, buying an observation deck ticket, waiting for sunset, and perhaps recreating a scene straight out of Sleepless in Seattle.<!-- --> But this Russian daredevil couple decided to do it the other way, the illegal and life-threatening way. Their illegal climb ultimately ended them in handcuffs.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>Let\u2019s find out what happened:<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"5\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">The video<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"7\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/>A video is going viral on social media where a couple in black attire and mask can be seen on the roof of the iconic Empire State Building in New York City. On July 1, Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan &#8220;Vanya&#8221; Beerkus left New Yorkers and the world shocked when they climbed the antenna spire of the Empire State Building, which is nearly 1,454 feet (443 metres) above the streets below. <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>In the video, the couple can be seen without any visible safety equipment on the top of the building. Then they come down on a platform, the couple kissed, unfurled a banner reading, <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>&#8220;When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.&#8221; <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>Beerkus gets down on one knee and proposes, she accepts and they kiss. <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">The couple is now arrested<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>But moments later, New York Police Dept. officers arrested the pair after they came down. Now, the couple is facing multiple charges including burglary, criminal trespass, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>The video of the dramatic incident went viral in no time not only because it happened atop one of the world&#8217;s most recognisable tourist attractions.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">The attraction that defines New York<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/>The Empire State Building is a historic site which was completed in 1931. It was the period of the Great Depression. The Art Deco masterpiece stood as the tallest building in the world for over 40 years. Today, its silhouette dominates the Manhattan skyline making it New York City&#8217;s one of the most visited landmarks.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>Every year, around four million visitors travel from across the globe. People come here to admire panoramic views stretching across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Hollywood connection<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"41\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>The building has appeared in more than 250 films and television shows, including the blockbuster King Kong, Sleepless in Seattle, An Affair to Remember and Elf, among others.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">A hub of proposals<\/span> <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"48\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"empire state 1\" msid=\"132132412\" width=\"\" title=\"canva\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-132132412\/empire-state-1.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>canva<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/>Despite this week&#8217;s headlines, the Empire State Building has long been associated with love and romance. <!-- -->The site has seen thousands of marriage proposals making it an iconic proposal hub.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">Valentine\u2019s Day special marriage arrangements<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"58\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>The 86th-floor open-air observation deck is quite a popular sunset point, when the city lights begin to sparkle beneath visitors. On Valentine&#8217;s Day, the building even hosts an exclusive wedding event where selected couples are allowed to marry on the observation deck.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"61\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"62\"\/><span class=\"strong\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">What can tourists actually visit<\/span><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"64\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"New York's Most Iconic Tourist Attraction\" msid=\"132132368\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-132132368\/new-yorks-most-iconic-tourist-attraction.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/>Regular visitors can access two observation decks:<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"68\"\/>86th floor observation deck<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/>The building&#8217;s most famous open-air viewing platform<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/>Offers unobstructed 360-degree views of New York City<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>102nd Floor Observatory<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"76\"\/>So next time you visit New York, don\u2019t go dare deviling anywhere!<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"78\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/life-style\/travel\/destinations\/russian-couple-climbed-the-empire-state-building-to-get-engaged-then-were-arrested-why-it-remains-new-yorks-most-iconic-tourist-attraction\/articleshow\/132132205.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not every proposal has a happy ending and this incident is a perfect proof. For most couples, getting engaged atop New York City&#8217;s iconic Empire State Building means getting permissions, buying an observation deck ticket, waiting for sunset, and perhaps recreating a scene straight out of Sleepless in Seattle. But this Russian daredevil couple decided&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-style"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29140"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29140\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saharanews.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}