>>64130281
They had a bullpup prototype in the 50s already but iirc it never entered production because the Soviets army thought it was too complicated.
Then when all those western bullpups started popping up in the late 70s to mid 80s the USSR was in no shape develop and adopt a brand new rife. I believe Russia and Ukraine tried their luck at bullpup AKs in the 90s though.