Mkoian

MEMORANDUM ****

Ruben Mkoian (“Mkoian”), an Armenian citizen, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order affirming an immigration judge’s denial of his claims (and the derivative claims of his wife and son) for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).

The parties are familiar with the facts. Mkoian was a sergeant in an Armenian equivalent of a department of motor vehicles (“DMV”). He was approached with a bribe to register stolen vehicles. He refused. A co-worker took the bribe. Mkoian reported the incident to the chief of the DMV, who told him to mind his own business. Subsequently, he and his family were subjected to attacks he believed were attempts to silence him about corruption at the DMV. He moved to Russia and then to the U.S. with his wife and two children.

Sixteen years have elapsed since Mkoian lived in Armenia and worked for the Armenian DMV. The immigration judge noted that since Mkoian arrived in the United States, the Armenian government has evidenced an interest in stopping corruption. Mkoian’s fear that Armenian officials would be unable or unwilling to protect him…