Arakelyan

MEMORANDUM **

Norik Amarpovich Arakelyan, a native and citizen of Armenia, petitions for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirming the denial by an immigration judge (IJ) of his application for asylum, withholding of removal *310 and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 , and we deny the petition.

Where the BIA adopts and affirms the decision of the IJ, we review the decision of the IJ as the final agency determination. See Smolniakova v. Gonzales, 422 F.3d 1037,1044 (9th Cir.2005).

We review an adverse credibility finding under the substantial evidence standard and may reverse only if the evidence compels a contrary conclusion. See Singh v. Ashcroft, 367 F.3d 1139, 1143 (9th Cir. 2004).

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility finding. Arakelyan’s testimony was inconsistent with his application and a sworn interview with regard to whether he was arrested and detained in 1998. His testimony was also internally inconsistent and in conflict with documentary evidence concerning the timing and reason for his decision to leave Armenia. These inconsistencies go to the…