The Russian word that is most frequently spoken throughout the world isn't Lenin, Gulag or Perestroika, it's Kalashnikov. The reason for this is simple: there are 80 million Kalashnikovs in circulation on five continents. Once invented, the AK-47 assault rifle became the most widely used weapon in the world. From Vietnam to Palestine, from Cuba to Iraq, the AK-47 was at the heart of conflicts and struggles everywhere. It is the only firearm that has ever been depicted on a national flag - that of Mozambique, where it symbolizes liberation.
