[5] According to a report by the Hetq investigative online newspaper made in 2014, Grigoryan owned significant properties and businesses, particularly in his hometown of Arshaluys and in nearby Vagharshapat where he resided, many of which were not registered in his name and for which he did not pay the majority of taxes.

[6] Human rights activists like Larisa Alaverdyan who during the years of the war in Karabakh was engaged in the exchange of prisoners accused Grigoryan of breaching Geneva Conventions.

"[8] During the protests following the disputed 2008 Armenian presidential election, there were expectations that Grigoryan and another deputy defense minister, Gagik Melkonyan, would encourage the army and the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union to intervene in favor of the protestors led by ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Then president-elect Serzh Sargsyan stated on 13 March 2008 that he was "deeply regretful and hurt that he [Manvel Grigoryan] made an attempt to enter politics and disobey his commander-in-chief.

[15] This admission drew significant criticism from human rights advocates, including Artur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office.

Sakunts called for an investigation into Grigoryan's admission and indicated plans to file a formal complaint with Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office.

Other activists, such as Larisa Alaverdyan, acknowledged that instances of private individuals holding prisoners occurred during the war but stressed that such practices constituted breaches of international law.

[16] The Armenian Prosecutor General's Office pledged to review Grigoryan's statements and provide a legal assessment, although no substantial action followed.

[17] In June 2018, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) commented on the arrest of Manvel Grigoryan, former Deputy Minister of Defence of Armenia.

In a 2014 interview, Grigoryan admitted to holding Azerbaijani prisoners at his residence, a statement which led to criticism from Armenian human rights defenders and allegations of violations of the Geneva Conventions.