Next time you’re in Moscow, don’t forget to take a selfie with your new AK-47!
- The Kalashnikov souvenir shop is now open in Moscow’s biggest airport.
- You can’t buy a real gun, but they sell model plastic guns: rifles, like the iconic AK-47, and pistols.
- You can also get other novelties like camouflage, “I Love AK” t-shirts, bags, hats, umbrellas, and smaller trinkets like pens. Even kids get to play with the guns.
You can see some of them in the video below:
Gunmaker Kalashnikov opens souvenir shop at Moscow airport https://t.co/UNYj7PDDkQhttps://t.co/E269BTASXT
— RT (@RT_com) August 19, 2016
Why would you want to put guns in an airport, even if they’re fake?
Kalashnikov is one of Russia’s most well known brands worldwide. They’ve been arming the Russian military for decades, and insurgents worldwide use their famous AK-47 rifles.
The company’s head of marketing Vladimir Dmitriev said, “Kalashnikov is one of the most popular brands that come to mind for most people in the world when they hear about Russia. So, we are pleased to provide the opportunity for everyone to take away from Russia a souvenir with our company brand.”
IMAGES of #Russia new Kalashnikov GUNS store at #Moscow AIRPORT https://t.co/GHAAsSUMB2 Kids with Guns Nice! #Putin pic.twitter.com/NVV6WO7E66
— raging.me (@raging545) August 23, 2016
Is it a security risk?
The model pistols and rifles will be clearly fake, so it shouldn’t cause security problems according to Dmitriev. However, the guns look real enough in the photos of the souvenir shop, so other airports will could be very concerned when customers’ bags are scanned elsewhere. Prepare for longer lines if you pack a fake gun in your carry-on bag.
See for yourself:
Before you fly out of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, don’t forget your souvenir Kalashnikov. pic.twitter.com/7ggFy3MPdR
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 23, 2016