Oganesov

MEMORANDUM ***

Lead petitioner Artyom Oganesov, a citizen of Armenia, seeks review of the Board *575 of Immigration Appeal’s order affirming an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We ask whether the IJ’s conclusions were supported by substantial evidence or whether the record compels a different result. Balam-Chuc v. Mukasey, 547 F.3d 1044, 1048 (9th Cir.2008).

To merit asylum relief, Oganesov has to show that he is a “refugee.” 8 U.S.C. § 1158 (b)(1). “A refugee is one who is ‘unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of [his or her native] country because of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.’ ” Karapetyan v. Mukasey, 543 F.3d 1118, 1125 (9th Cir.2008) (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (a)(42)(A)). The IJ found that Oganesov was not persecuted on account of a protected ground. Oganesov disagrees, arguing that he was persecuted because he is an Azerbaijan-born ethnic Armenian. For support, Oganesov points to an ethnic slur uttered during a physical confrontation between his son and a…