Russian Palace

The Russian Palace (Turkish: Rus Sarayı) is a historic property facing İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu (formerly Pera) neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey. From the 18th century to the early 1910s, it has been the seat of diplomatic missions of the Russian Empire to the Ottoman Empire. Following the disappearance of both empires in 1917 and 1922 respectively, it was recovered by the Soviet Union, which relocated its embassy to the new capital of Ankara. The Russian Palace has subsequently served as the Soviet, then Russian consulate-general in Istanbul, as well as a residence for the ambassador when in town. The building was originally built of wood and was altered repeatedly following episodes of fire and disrepair, and the current structure mostly results from reconstruction in the early 1840s.