I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence.

It is the Germans who are responsible for the fact that I became a fabricator of arms. If not for them, I would have constructed agricultural machines.

I have continued to work at different things, and rebuilt my home all by myself. I did it for the sake of satisfaction at doing something. I did it because I happened to be where I was.

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 was probably born with some designing abilities.

My aim was to create armaments to protect the borders of my motherland. It is not my fault that the Kalashnikov became very well-known in the world; that it was used in many troubled places. I think the policies of these countries are to blame, not the designers. Man is born to protect his family, his children, his wife. But I want you to know that apart from armaments, I have written three books in which I try to educate our youth to show respect for their families, for old people, for history.