Gor Mnatsakanyan v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Gor Mnatsakanyan, a native and citizen of Armenia, seeks review of the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). The Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) denied relief on the basis of an adverse credibility finding. We must uphold an adverse credibility finding so long as it is supported by substantial evidence. Soto-Olarte v. Holder, 555 F.3d 1089, 1091 (9th Cir.2009). The provisions of the REAL ID Act govern our review. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158 (b)(l)(B)(iii); Kaur v. Gonzales, 418 F.3d 1061 , 1064 n. 1 (9th Cir.2005).

Mnatsakanyan claims Armenian security officials persecuted him on account of his father’s involvement in opposition politics. Petitioner claims he was beaten on one occasion because he did not provide information about his father’s political activities. Although Petitioner was ably represented in this court by counsel from the University of Idaho, we must conclude that substantial evidence supports the adverse credibility finding. See Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1043-44 (9th Cir.2010).

The BIA accurately pointed to several inconsistencies in the record that undermine Petitioner’s…