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 answer and definition are plural nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

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

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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