VIDEO: Bus Drivers in Yerevan Hold Protest – What Are Their Demands?

Samvel Nazaryan, the acting director of "Yerevan Bus" LLC, has been accused by drivers of unjustly dismissing long-time employees while hiring close associates. In a conversation with reporters, a driver expressed, “He shows contempt towards employees. We were told that every five minutes, ten people could be fired. The new director hasn’t provided any explanations to anyone.”

The drivers stated that they want to restore their former managers, with whom they have worked like a family for 12 years. They indicated that everything changed in a month. “On April 8, Samvel Nazaryan was appointed as the new director, after which unjust dismissals began in the company. Today, it reached the chief engineer Andranik Manukyan, who has been here since the company was established. Samvel Ghazaryan is the ‘man’ of the head of the municipal transport department, and now the institution is being managed by the head of the transport department. The director does not sign any documents without consulting him,” said one of the drivers.

In an interview with reporters, Samvel Nazaryan assured that he meets and talks with nearly all drivers on a daily basis. “I am present at all bus depots on Saturdays, Sundays, and if necessary, also on Mondays, working with everyone from the depot head to the drivers,” he confirmed. He declined to answer further questions, stating that he is in a hurry to resolve the situation.

Earlier, the press secretary of the Yerevan Mayor, Haik Kostanyan, reported that drivers on certain public transport routes had not fulfilled their work obligations and had deviated from their schedules. The Yerevan municipality considered this initiative of the drivers as a sabotage against the reforms being implemented in the transport sector.