Russian rooftoppers Ivan Birkus and Angelina Nicolau, who scaled the Empire State Building in the United States, once again face deportation to Russia after a plea deal fell through, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to NUR.KZ, citing RBC, the outlet published a translation of a Fox News segment stating that US prosecutors backed out of an agreement with the couple at the last moment. Their lawyer, Noam Biale, told journalists this. According to him, Ivan Birkus and Angelina Nicolau were offered a deal to plead guilty to a minor offense for climbing the Empire State Building. However, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office disputed this claim, saying no formal plea offer had been made.
In the current situation, the rooftoppers now face felony charges, a prison sentence and subsequent deportation to Russia. The case has been postponed until January 28, 2027. Until then, the question of filing charges may be referred to a grand jury.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office previously said the Russian rooftoppers could face up to 20 years in prison. It specified that the couple caused more than $1,500 in property damage.
Recall that Birkus and Nicolau climbed to the top of the roughly 443-meter-tall skyscraper on July 1. The couple wore black clothing and masks, and attached a banner to the antenna reading: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." When the rooftoppers descended from the spire to the platform, Birkus proposed to Nicolau. The couple was detained the same day.