Armenian court orders $3 million asset seizure from relatives of war criminal Manvel Grigoryan

A court in Armenia has ordered the seizure of assets worth over $3 million from the relatives and close associates of the late war criminal and looter Manvel Grigoryan.

The ruling partially upholds a claim filed by Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

The office has indicated it will appeal the portions of the claim that were rejected.

Grigoryan, a controversial figure accused of war crimes and looting, had previously had his and his wife’s assets frozen by authorities in November 2023.

Manvel Grigoryan, former Deputy Minister of Defence of Armenia, has been implicated in numerous war crimes against Azerbaijan during the Karabakh conflict.

In an interview, he admitted returning from Karabakh with hundreds of Azerbaijani captives, who were held in his home and forced into labour. He also acknowledged his role in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, including the kidnapping, beating, and intimidation of civilians to prevent their return.

During a court session on September 25, 2025, Grigoryan’s confessions were presented as evidence in the trial of Armenian leaders accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, genocide, violations of the laws of war, terrorism, and other offences linked to Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev