Pliner was born in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) in 1936[1] and started skating at 14 years old.

He graduated from the State Central Institute of Physical Culture (GTSOLIFK) in 1959, earning a master's degree of Sports Science.

From 1991 to 1992, Pliner worked as a visiting skating coach in Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Yugoslavia, Germany, and other countries.

In 1993, he began working at the Colonial Figure Skating Club (CFSC) in Boxborough, Massachusetts, USA.

Pliner was awarded the Gold Pin from the IPSU (International Professional Skating Union).