Russian-Turkish relations at the state level were established by Ivan III and have continued for over half a century. In 1492, the tsar sent a letter to the Turkish Sultan Bayezid proposing to establish intergovernmental ties, which the sultan accepted.

In the mid-18th century, a plot of land was acquired in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, the European part of the city located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Horn, for the construction of the first embassy building. According to legend, Empress Catherine sent several ships with Russian soil to fill a ravine on the site and thus expand it.

The first two embassy buildings were destroyed by fires that frequently occurred in Istanbul during the Ottoman period. One of them housed Mikhail Kutuzov, the future commander of the Patriotic War of 1812, from 1792 to 1794.

The construction of the current building of the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul began in 1837. The project, designed in the style of Russian classicism, was developed by the Italian architect Fossati, who also oversaw the construction. After the work was completed, at the sultan's request, Fossati directed the restoration of the Hagia Sophia, which had been converted into a mosque by the Turks.

The best domestic craftsmen, stonemasons, and carpenters were involved in the construction of the embassy palace. Cast iron gates, grilles, and coats of arms were made at a metallurgical plant in Luhansk, which have survived to this day. However, the wall and ceiling paintings created by Italian decorative artists were lost. They depicted views of St. Petersburg.

The interior of the Consulate General retains a palatial grandeur. The building has several large halls, including the main hall with columns 13 meters high and an area of over 500 square meters, including a veranda. The Mirror Hall impresses with its ceiling stucco and antique mirrors. All visitors are struck by the luxury of these rooms.

The embassy building has repeatedly suffered from natural disasters and has undergone major renovations. After the revolution and civil war, it housed a hospital for wounded officers of the White Army. When the Bolsheviks established diplomatic relations with Turkey, the coat of arms of the Russian Empire was removed from the building but was restored in 2005 in a new form.

A year later, a memorial plaque depicting Konstantin Leontiev (1831-1891), a famous Russian thinker and diplomat whose activities were connected with Turkey, appeared on the wall of the Consulate General.

The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Istanbul is a monument of architecture and a bright landmark of the city.