Arutinova

MEMORANDUM **

Natalia Arutinova, a native of the former Soviet Union and citizen of Georgia, *650 petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision, which affirmed the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying her application for asylum, withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 .

Where, as here, the BIA adopts and affirms the IJ’s decision, we review the decision of the IJ as if it were that of the BIA. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003). We review for substantial evidence, Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1015 (9th Cir.2003), and we deny this petition for review.

Arutinova contends that she established past persecution. We disagree. First, with respect to the problems Arutinova had in her schooling, the problems she had finding employment, and the closing of her school, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s conclusion that these incidents did not rise to the level of persecution. See id. at 1016 ; see also Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d 336, 339-40 (9th Cir.1995). Second, with respect to the assault against Arutinova at school, substantial evidence supports…