Drobysh responds to Klava Koka's accusation after TV judging dispute

Producer Viktor Drobysh rejected Klava Koka's accusation of abuse in an October 8 interview with RIA Novosti. The accusation followed his criticism of singer Dora, and he described Koka's response as an attempt to attract publicity.

The dispute arose on the television show Battle of the Generations, where Dora, whose real name is Darya Shikhanova, performed Znayesh Li Ty by MakSim, whose real name is Marina Abrosimova. Drobysh criticised the performance, and the singer cried. Klava Koka, whose real name is Klavdiya Vysokova, defended her.

Drobysh said he believed Koka misunderstood the word abuse. He also argued that a judge should assess performances rather than act as a contestant's friend. His claim about the singer's motives was his own assessment.

He criticised Dora's delivery and artistic choices but stressed that disapproval of the performance did not mean he disliked her. He said selecting the best performers could be difficult, but judges needed to be willing to state their views.

The judging panel also included Mikhail Shufutinsky, Katya Lel, Tatyana Kurtukova and Yuri Nikolaenko. The televised dispute and the participants' remarks do not establish that psychological abuse took place.