Kolodchenko

MEMORANDUM **

Valeriy Vladimirovich Kolodchenko, a native and citizen of Russia, petitions for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision that affirmed the ruling of an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denying his 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 reviews de novo the IJ’s decision, our review is limited to the decision of the BIA. Garcia-Quintero v. Gonzales, 455 F.3d 1006, 1011 (9th Cir.2006). We review for substantial evidence, Gu v. Gonzales, 454 F.3d 1014, 1018 (9th Cir.2006), and we deny the petition.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s finding that the treatment Kolodchenko endured at the hands of drunken sailors did not rise to the level of past persecution, and that he does not have a well-founded fear of future persecution if he returns to Russia. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1016-18 (9th Cir.2003).

Because Kolodchenko failed to satisfy the lower standard of proof for asylum, he necessarily failed to satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Mansour v. Ashcroft, 390 F.3d 667, 673 (9th…