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Abstract. The assassinations of ambassadors in post-Horde international politics were extremely rare, especially in comparison with attacks, thefts, extortion and fraud. One of these incidents happened to the Russian ambassador Tretyak Chebukov in Siberia in 1573. As a result, this case leads to a discussion that has been going on for more than 50 years. It is about the reasons for and purpose of the embassy itself, as well as the ambassador’s assassination and its consequences. The analysis of few sources shows that Isker to Khan Kuchum knew Tretyak Chebukov for his mission in 1571. Two years later, he was sent to negotiations in the Kazakh steppes. It updates the question of the time and reasons for establishing Russian-Kazakh relations. His death is not related to the termination of the Moscow-Siberian negotiations directly. It was more likely the result of an unsuccessfully chosen way. As a result, the diplomatic mission met a detachment of Mametkul, the nephew of Khan Kuchum and the chief commander of the Siberian Khanate. Mametkul was sent on a campaign against Chusovaya and Perm the Great. At the same time, the fact of the assassination itself did not lead to a political reaction from Ivan IV, except for the soon transfer of Takhchei land and land at the Tobol river to the Stroganovs for their further development. However, that could not be done in those conditions.
Keywords: Moscow Czardom, Siberian Khanate, Kazakh Khanate, Russian-Kazakh relations.