Then it was like a genie out of the bottle and it began to walk all on its own and in directions I did not want.

I am still ready to shake hands with anyone who designs a better assault rifle than mine.

I tried a dozen different modifications that were rejected. But they all served as a path to the final design.

I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by terrorists.

I created a weapon to defend the borders of my motherland. It's not my fault that it's being used where it shouldn't be. The politicians are more to blame for this.

When a young man, I read somewhere the following: God the Almighty said, 'All that is too complex is unnecessary, and it is simple that is needed.' So this has been my lifetime motto – I have been creating weapons to defend the borders of my fatherland, to be simple and reliable.

It is painful for me to see when criminal elements of all kinds fire from my weapon.