They were in Russia before Tass was created outright! (5)

I believe the answer is:

tsars

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'they' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tsars that I've seen before include "Old Russian rulers" , "Russian emperors" , "Old Russia's rulers" , "Old monarchs" .)

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