MOSCOW - A shipment of Kalashnikov rifles, popularly known as AK-47s, was destined for the United States when it was stopped and quickly rerouted to Venezuela. Washington had just slapped Moscow with sanctions over the Ukraine crisis, and the Russian gun maker Kalashnikov Kontsern suddenly found one of its biggest markets off limits.
New York Times: Kalashnikov, maker of AK-47, looks to rebrand
(Archive photo) Famous Russian weapon designer Mikhail Kalashnikov, 87, poses with the first model of his legendary AK-47 assault rifle during a ceremony of celebrating of the 60th anniversary of his rifle in Moscow, 06 July 2007.
