Dmitri Iosifovich Ivanovsky (alternative spelling Dmitrii or Dmitry Iwanowski, Russian: Ивановский, Дмитрий Иосифович) (1864-1920) was a Russian botanist, one of the discoverers of filterable nature of viruses (1892) and thus one of the founders of virology.

Ivanovsky studied at the University of St Petersburg in 1887, when he was sent to Ukraine and Bessarabia to investigate a tobacco disease causing a great damage to plantations at the time. Three years later, he was assigned to look into similar disease of tobacco plants, this time raging in the Crimea region. He discovered that both diseases were caused by an extremely minuscule infectious agent, capable of permeating porcelain Chamberland filters, something which bacteria could never do. He described his findings in an article (1892) and a dissertation (1902).

In 1898, the Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck independently replicated Ivanovsky's experiments and became convinced that the filtered solution contained a new form of infectious agent, which he named virus. Beijerinck subsequently acknowledged Ivanovsky's priority of discovery.

Makvala Kasrashvili (Georgian: მაყვალა ქასრაშვილი, Russian: Маквала Филимоновна Касрашвили, Makvala Filimonovna Kasrashvili) is a Georgian-Russian opera singer (soprano).

Born March 13, 1942 (not March 15, 1948, as some sources incorrectly state) in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, she graduated from Tbilisi State Conservatory in 1966. Since 1968, she has been a soloist with Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. Beginning with her international debut at Metropolitan Opera, New York City, in 1979, she has also performed at Royal Opera House and Covent Garden, London. She was awarded State Prizes of Georgia in 1983 and of Russia in 1998, and the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1986. Since 2000, she has been Director of Opera at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Boris Fyodorovich Godunov (Russian: Бори́с Фёдорович Годуно́в, IPA: [bɐˈrʲis ɡədʊˈnof]; c. 1551 – 23 April [O.S. 13 April] 1605) was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.

Boris Godunov was the most noted member of an ancient, now extinct, Russian family of Tatar origin, which came from the Horde to Kostroma in the early 14th century. He was descended from the Tatarian Prince Chet, who went from the Golden Horde to Russia and founded the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma. Boris was the son of Feodor Ivanovich Godunov "Krivoy" ("One-eyed") (died, c. 1568–1570) and his wife Stepanida Ivanovna. His older brother Vasily died young and without issue.

Godunov's career began at the court of Ivan the Terrible. He is mentioned in 1570 as taking part in the Serpeisk campaign as an archer of the guard. The following year, he became an oprichnik - a member of Ivan's personal guard and secret police. In 1570/1571, Godunov strengthened his position at court by his marriage to Maria Grigorievna Skuratova-Belskaya, the daughter of oprichniks' head Malyuta Skuratov-Belskiy. In 1580, the Tsar chose Irina Godunova, or Irina (later Alexandra) Feodorovna Godunova (1557 – 26 October/23 November 1603), the sister of Godunov, to be the wife of his second son and eventual heir, the fourteen year old Feodor Ivanovich (1557–1598). On this occasion, Godunov was promoted to the rank of Boyar. On 15 November 1581, he was present at the scene of the Tsar's murder of his own eldest son, the crown prince Ivan. Godunov tried to intervene, but received blows from the Tsar's sceptre. Ivan immediately repented and Godunov rushed to get help for the Tsarevich, who died four days later.