The False Promises of a Revolutionary Youth: Why the Failed Director of the Bus Station Was Not Punished

When Nikol Pashinyan came to power, revolutionary youth declared that there would be revolutionary changes everywhere, and people would see resolutions to issues that had been unresolved for years. Unfortunately, we were mistaken.

The newspaper's correspondent visited the 'Kilikia' bus station to find out whether we now have a bus station that meets European standards three years after the revolution. The former Minister of Transport, and now Minister of High-Tech Industry, Hakob Arshakyan, as well as current Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan, replaced the former staff of the bus station entirely, claiming they were restoring justice and saving the station from destruction, leading it towards development. However, what we observed was truly disappointing.

Recall that as far back as 2019, the unsanitary conditions of that bus station were highlighted by Hakob Arshakyan (then the Minister of Transport, Communication, and Information Technology). He openly stated during a live broadcast: 'The sanitary conditions are terrible, especially in the restrooms; no work has been done for decades.'

To save the bus station's fate, Arshakyan appointed Roman Hambardzumyan as director. This self-satisfied youth claimed he would implement an electronic unified ticketing system and eliminate the bus station's unsanitary state. But experience shows that those who make such grandiose statements are usually ineffective and merely produce bubbles in the air.

In any case, following the trail of statements about the effectiveness of ministers' appointees, the 'Zhoghovurd' newspaper found that in his several months of working at the 'Kilikia' bus station, Roman Hambardzumyan had only repaired the restroom. In other words, it took him several months to fix a restroom, which is ironic.

Yet the absurdity does not end here; ArmLur.am news website clarified that the restroom renovation done by Roman Hambardzumyan was not in the interest of the citizens but for commercial purposes. Today, both drivers and citizens pay 100 drams to use the restroom at the bus station.

Moreover, during the time Hambardzumyan renovated the restroom, he was not only the director of the bus station but also the head of the 'Veolia Armenia' YTAT center division. This means he held two jobs simultaneously and, understandably, could not accomplish anything beyond fixing the restroom.

At least, in conversations with drivers, they noted that they often saw Hambardzumyan arriving at the bus station in a 'sewage truck' and leaving quickly.

Thus, this young man has significantly failed in his role, failing to fulfill promises as discussions about the electronic unified ticketing system at the bus station were met with smiles. Samvel Khachatryan, the head of 'Kilikia' bus station, informed us that during his three months in office, he has managed to resolve several issues: 'The entire bus station is now illuminated; I am referring to external lighting. Previously, it had been dark in the bus station hall, but now it is bright. The station's roof was partially renovated; it previously leaked water, which we have now addressed.'

Thus, Roman Hambardzumyan has not been the director of the bus station for three months; he has a replacement, yet the current authorities have not punished the failed director but rather allowed him to fade into obscurity. But those who view Hambardzumyan unfavorably have not forgotten him; even the director's position could not save him from revenge. On the night of March 1-2, 2019, unknown individuals burned his car in front of his house. Who they were and why remains unknown to the public.

Perhaps that's why he was seen traveling in a 'Veolia Water' vehicle.

This was reported by the 'Zhoghovurd' newspaper.