Minassian

MEMORANDUM **

Armen Minassian, a native and citizen of Armenia, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) affirmance of an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence an adverse credibility finding and will uphold the IJ’s decision unless the evidence compels a contrary conclusion. Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 992-93 (9th Cir.2003). We dismiss the petition in part and deny the petition in part.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. Minassian’s testimony about events in Armenia was inconsistent with his statements in his asylum interview. The discrepancies relate to the basis of his alleged fear of persecution and go to the heart of his asylum claim. See Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir.2001). Because Minassian’s testimony was not credible and he did not provide easily available corroborating evidence, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s determination that Minassian failed to satisfy his burden of proving his asylum case. See id. at…