Creator of the AK-47 feels “spiritual pain” for his invention

Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47.

The designer of the AK-47, Mikhail Kalashnikov, have expressed concern about the weapon that had killed so many people. Through a letter written before his death to the head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill , he said that “the spiritual pain was unbearable.”

A church spokesman confirmed to the Daily Izvestia that he would have received the letter six months before the death of Kalashnikov on December 23, 2013. However, he could not confirm its authenticity independently.

In a part of the letter he quoted the following: “One question keeps repeating: as my assault rifle has killed so many people, does that mean that I, Mikhail Kalashnikov (…) an Orthodox Christian, am responsible for the death of these people, even if they were enemies? “.

Kalashnikov mentioned many times he was proud of his invention, but also regretted its use by criminals and child soldiers. Likewise in 2009 said the rifle, created in 1947, was intended to defend the borders of his country (Russia).