Yana Rudkovskaya, the producer, voiced strong concerns to the organizers of the VOICE: 10 Best Couples award when she and Evgeni Plushenko were still listed among the participants despite her explicit refusals. She disclosed this on her Telegram channel, expressing surprise at the inclusion. She asked how they even reached the list, noting that she had no clue about the process and the reasons behind the selection.
Rudkovskaya stated that she had declined participation on two separate occasions, yet the couple remained in the lineup. She stressed that both she and Plushenko have demanding schedules and cannot spend time waiting in lines for appearances. The producer described the situation as a careless gesture toward serious professionals who are constantly in motion and prioritizing commitments.
She explained that their years of collaboration and shared workload leave little room for something as trivial as standing in line for figurines. The couple has found a steady rhythm in their professional lives, and Rudkovskaya emphasized that they do not chase appearances simply for the sake of visibility. She asserted that she had communicated clearly, publicly, that this year they would be absent from the event, and she framed the inclusion as inconsistent with their work ethic and schedule.
In late March 2023, VOICE announced the winners for the Top 10 Couples of the year. The brand highlighted several remarkable pairings as part of its annual recognition, including artists ST and Asol, Natalya Podolskaya and Vladimir Presnyakov, and Regina Todorenko with Vlad Topalov, among others. The lineup of honorees reflected a broad spectrum of collaborations across the entertainment and music sectors according to VOICE.