Minasyan

MEMORANDUM **

Petitioner Andrey Minasyan (“Minasyan”) appeals the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) affirmance of the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying Minasyan’s petition for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”), based on a finding of adverse credibility. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 and affirm.

Adverse credibility findings are reviewed for substantial evidence. Gui v. INS, 280 F.3d 1217, 1225 (9th Cir.2002). The IJ “ ‘must have a legitimate articulable basis to question the petitioner’s credibility, and must offer a specific, cogent reason for any stated disbelief.’ ” Id. (quoting Hartooni v. INS, 21 F.3d 336, 342 (9th Cir.1994)). An adverse credibility ruling “will be upheld so long as identified inconsistencies go to the ‘heart of [the] asylum claim.’ ” Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 962 (9th Cir.2004) (quoting Singh v. Ashcroft, 301 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2002)). Where an adverse credibility finding is based on discrepancies or inconsistencies, the applicant must be given a reasonable opportunity to explain those inconsistencies. Chen v. Ashcroft, 362 F.3d 611, 618 (9th Cir.2004). The IJ must…