[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

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__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ No. 1 2- 10 80 3 Non -Arg um en t Ca le nd ar

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__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Agen cy No. A0 87 -6 58 -3 10 EVGHENI SCURTUL, ALISA STUDIONOVA,
ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll Pet it io ne rs ,

ve rs us U.S. ATTO RNEY GENERAL,
ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll Res po nd en t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of a Deci si on of t he Bo ard of I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

__

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (Dece m be r 5, 2 01 2)
Befo re TJ OFLAT, PRYOR, and FAY, Circ ui t J ud ge s. PER CURI AM: Evg he ni Scu rtu l an d h is wife , Ali sa Stu di on ov a, who are n at iv es an d
ci ti zen s o f th e Rep ub li c o f Mo ld ov a (“ Mo ld ov a”), s eek rev ie w of t he Bo ard of

Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 1 of 10Im

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s’ (“ BIA”) de ci si on , affi rm in g t he Im m ig rat io n J ud ge ’s (“ IJ ”)

or de r fi nd in g t he m

rem ov ab le an d d en y in g t he ir a pp li cat io n fo r as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of r em ov al un de r th e Im m ig rat io n a nd Nati on al it y Act (“ INA”), an d
rel ie f un de r th e Uni te d Nat io ns Co nv en ti on Agai ns t To rtu re an d Ot he r Cru el , In hu m an an d Deg rad in g Tre at m en t o r Pu ni sh m en t (“ CAT”). On a pp eal , th ey
arg ue th at Scu rtu l was pe rs ecu te d b y th e Mo ld ov an go ve rn m en t b as ed on hi s
po li ti cal be li efs , and , as s uc h, h e h as a well -fo un de d fe ar o f fu tu re p ers ecu ti on
. Fo r th e rea so ns set for th be lo w, we den y th e p et it io n. I.
Scu rtu l an d S tu di on ov a en te red th e Uni te d S ta te s i n J un e 2 00 9, an d M ay 20 09 , res pe ct iv el y , and rem ai ne d wi th ou t au th or iz at io n a fte r th ei r te m po rary vis as

ex pi red . In Se pt em

be r 20 09 , th ey

su bm it te d a n a pp li cat io n fo r as y lu m , wit hh ol di ng of r em ov al , and CAT rel ie f ba se d o n S cu rtu l’s p ol it ic al op in io n. At t he rem ov al he ari ng , Scu rtu l t es ti fie d t ha t, o n Ap ril 7, 2 00 9, h e
pa rti ci pa te d i n a po li ti cal m eet in g re ga rd in g a ll eg ed ly fals e Mo ld ov an ele ct io n

res ul ts . The co m

m un is t g ov ern m en t s en t p ol ic e to di sp ers e th e m eet in g, an d wh en Scu rtu l at te m

pt ed to esc ap e, po li ce g rab be d h im , th rew h im in to a bu s, an d b eat
hi m . Scu rtu l’s l eg was b ad ly inju red , and he ha d b ru is es all ov er h is bo dy. The

ne xt da y , Scu rtu l s ou gh t m ed ic al tre at m en t, an d h e was req ui red to wear a ca st on

2 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 2 of 10hi s l eg for ten da y s. Aft er t hi s i nc id en t, t he po li ce s en t h im two no ti ces to ap pe ar fo r an in te rro ga ti on , bu t h e d id no t d o s o b ecau se he was a frai d.
On cr os s- ex am in at io n, Sc ur tu l s ta te d t ha t ap pr ox im at el y 10 ,00 0 p eo pl e
at te nd ed th e 2 00 9 p ol it ic al ral ly. He fu rth er t es ti fie d t ha t p ol ic e “ th rew [h im ] of f
th e b us ” 1 5 m in ut es aft er t he y gra bb ed hi m . Upo n q ue st io ni ng fro m th e IJ , Scu rtu l
in di cat ed th at he was n ot a le ad er o f th e p ro te st

. Am on g o th er ex hi bi ts , th e g ov ern m en t s ub m it te d t he U.S. Depar tm en t o f
St at e’s 20 09 Hum an Rig ht s R ep or t o n M ol do va , whi ch in di cat ed th at Mo ld ov an

au th or it ie s h ad pu rs ue d 4 6 c riminal cas es ag ai ns t p ol ic e o ffi cers accu se d o f ab us e du rin g Ap ril 20 09 de m on st rat io ns , and on Apri l 1 5, 2 00 9, Pr es id en t Vl ad im ir
Vor on in an no un ced a “ to ta l am ne st y ” fo r an y on e fac in g a dm in is tra ti ve ch arg es rel at ed to th e d em on st rat io ns
. The IJ is su ed an or al de ci si on , de nyin g Scu rtu l’s as y lu m ap pl ic at io n an d
f in di ng th at : (1 ) he ha d no t su ffer ed pa st pe rs ecu ti on ; an d (2 ) he ha d f a i l e d t o

es ta bl is h a n o b

jecti ve ly reas on ab le , well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on in
Mo ld ov a. As to pa st pe rs ecu ti on , Scu rtu l ha d m erel y su st ai ne d an an kl e in jury, an d
he was tre at ed on an ou tp at ie nt ba si s. Fu rth er, th e in jury was no t so se ve re th at h e

ne ed ed im m ed ia te m ed ic al tre at m en t, as he wait ed u n ti l th e fo ll owi ng da y to se ek

m ed ic a l care
. Alt ho ug h Scu rtu l was req ui red to wear a cas t fo r te n da y s, hi s

3 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 3 of 10te st im on y an d ap pe aran ce du rin g th e as y lu m he ari ng es ta bl is he d t h a t he ha d no t

su st ai ne d a la st in g or lo ng -te rm in jury. Add it io na ll y , S cu rtu l was on ly det ai ne d by
po li ce fo r 15 m in ut es , and co ns id eri ng all of h is all eg at io ns , h e fai le d t o a ll eg e act s th at ris e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on
. As to fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on , th e IJ fo un d th at se ve ral fact or s un de rm in ed Scu rtu l’s

co nt en ti on th at , if h e ret ur ne d to Mo ld ov a, he wou ld be im m ed ia te ly ide nt ifi ed an d
pe rs ecu te d. Sp eci fic al ly, ev id en ce es t a b l i s h ed th at : (1 ) Scu rtu l was on ly on e of
10 ,00 0 pr ot es to rs on Apr il 7, 20 09 , an d he was no t a le ad er of th e pr ot es t; (2 ) he was al lo wed to le av e aft er 15 m in ut es of de te nt io n, whi ch reb ut s hi s co nt en ti on th at po li ce

wou ld st il l be lo ok in g fo r hi m ; an d (3 ) no po li ce act io n was ta k e n w h e n S c u rtu l ig no red th e su bp oe na s to ap pe ar fo r an in te rro ga ti on
. A ddi tio nall y , th e Hum an Ri gh ts Rep or t es ta bl is he d th at th e Mo ld ov an pr es id en t ha d an no un ced a “ to ta l am ne st y ” fo r

an y on e faci ng ad mi n i st rat iv e ch arg es rel at ed to th e Apr il 20 09 pr ot es t, an d th e Mo ld ov an go ve rn m en t ha d m ad e effo rts t o p u n is h th e po li ce ab us e rel at ed to th e
pr ot es t. Thu s, un de r th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces , Scu rtu l ha d fai le d to es ta bl is h

an ob jecti ve ly reas on ab le , well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on
. Bec au se he fai le d

to su st ai n th e lo wer b ur de n fo r as y lu m rel ie f, Scu rtu l ne ces sa ril y fai le d to es ta bl is h
hi s el ig ib il it y fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

. Fi na ll y , a s to CAT pr ot ect io n, th ere ha d
be e n n o t e s t im on y th at Scu rtu l wou ld be to rtu red by, or wit h th e co ns en t of , a

4 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 4 of 10Mo ld ov an go ve rn m en t o ffi ci al if h e ret ur ne d t o M ol do va
.

The pe ti ti on ers ap pe al ed to th e BIA, an d aft er th e BIA co nd uc te d a de no vo

rev ie w, it di sm is se d th e ap pe al

. The BIA ag reed wit h th e IJ th at Scu rtu l ha d no t

su ffer ed pa st pe rs ecu ti on be cau se he was on ly de ta in ed by po li ce fo r 15 m in ut es , an d
hi s in jure s req ui red on ly ou tp at ie nt m ed ic al tre at m en t. The BIA al so ag reed wit h th e IJ ’s fin di ng th at Scu rtu l ha d no t es ta bl is he d a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on be cau se th e po li ce rel eas ed hi m aft er 15 m in ut es , an d alt ho ug h he had rece iv ed two

no ti ces to ap pe ar fo r qu es ti on in g, th e reco rd di d no t in di cat e th at an arre st warra n t ha d be en is su ed

. Fo r th es e reas on s, th e BIA fo un d th at Scu rtu l fai le d to de m on st rat e hi s e l ig ib il it y fo r as y lu m or wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

. The BIA al so co nc lu de d th at
Scu rtu l fa il ed to est ab li sh eli gi bi li ty for CAT p ro te ct io n. II.
W e rev ie w th e BIA’s de ci si on , bu t whe re th e Bo ard ex pr es sl y ad op ts or ag rees wit h th e IJ reg ard in g an is su e, we rev ie w th e de ci si on s of bo th th e IJ an d th e BIA
reg ard in g th at is su e. Ka ze mza de h v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 57 7 F.3 d 13 41 , 13 50 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 09 ). Here, th e BIA co nd uc te d a de no vo rev ie w, an d ag reed wit h th e IJ th at Scu rtu l
fai le d to es ta bl is h pa st pe rs ecu ti on or a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on
. The refo re, we rev ie w bo th th e IJ ’s and BIA’s de ci si on s o n t ho se is su es
. Id.
W e rev ie w th e IJ ’s an d th e BIA’s fact ua l de te rm in a t i o n s un de r th e hi gh ly

5 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 5 of 10de fere nt ia l su bs ta nt ia l-e vi de nc e te st an d will affi rm if th e de ci si on “ is su pp or te d by

reas on ab le , su bs ta nt ia l, an d pr ob at iv e ev id en ce on th e reco rd co ns id ered as a who le .”
Id

. at 13 50 -5 1 (q uo ta ti on om it te d)

. To rev ers e a fin di ng of fact by th e BIA or th e IJ ,

we m us t co nc lu de th at “ th e reco rd no t on ly su pp or ts rev ers al , bu t co m pe ls it .” Id

. at
13 51

. We rev ie w th e IJ ’s an d th e BIA’s le ga l co nc lu si on s de no vo
. Id

. at 13 50

. Add it io na ll y , an ap pe ll an t ab an do ns an is su e by fai li ng to of fer an y arg um en ts on th at is su e. Se pu lv ed a v . U.S. Att 'y Gen ., 40 1 F .3d 12 26 , 12 28 n.2 (11 th Cir . 20 05 ).
An al ie n m ay rece iv e as y lu m in th e Uni te d St at es if he is a “ refu ge e” wit hi n th e

m ean in g of th e INA. Id

. at 12 30

. The INA de fin es a refu ge e as a pe rs on who can no t
ret ur n to hi s ho m e co un try du e to “ pe rs ecu ti on or a well -fo un de d fear of pe rs ecu ti on

on acco un t of race , rel ig io n, na ti on al it y , m em be rs hi p in a pa rti cu la r so ci al gr ou p, or
po li ti cal op in io n.” INA § 10 1( a)(4 2) , 8 U

. S

. C

. § 11 01 (a)( 42 ). Thu s, to be el ig ib le
fo r as y lu m , an al ie n m

us t es ta bl is h, wit h cred ib le ev id en ce, ei th er pa st pe rs ecu ti on or

a well -f o u n de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on , on acco un t of a pr ot ect ed gr ou nd

. Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F .3d at 1 23 0- 31

. The st an da rd fo r es ta bl i s h i n g e li gi bi li ty fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al is

su bs ta nt ia ll y th e sa m e as th at fo r as y lu m
. Se e Ta n v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 44 6 F.3 d 13 69 , 13 75 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 06 ) (d es cri bi ng th e st an da rd fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al ). The on ly
rel ev an t di ffer en ce is th at an al ie n se ek in g wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al m us t de m on st rat e

6 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 6 of 10a “ m or e li ke ly th an no t” pr ob ab il it y of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on , whi ch is a m or e st rin ge nt

st an da rd th an th e “ well -fo un de d fear ” st an da r d r e qu ire d fo r as y lu m
. Se e id

. ; Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 31 -3 3. Co ns eq ue nt ly, an al ie n ge ne ral ly can no t qu al ify fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al if he is un ab le to m eet th e lo wer st an da rd of pr oo f fo r as y lu m
. Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 32 -3 3; Al Na jj ar v. Ash cr of

t , 25 7 F.3 d 12 62 , 12 92 -9 3 (1 1t h
Ci r. 20 01 ). “ To es ta bl is h el ig ib il it y fo r CAT rel ie f, an ap pl ic an t m us t sh ow th at it is

m or e li ke ly th an no t th at he wil l be to rtu red by, or wit h th e acq ui es cen ce of , go ve rn m en t of

fic ia ls if ret ur n e d t o th e de si gn at ed co un try of rem ov al .” To do ro vi c v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 62 1 F .3d 13 18 , 13 24 (11 th Cir . 20 10 ).
W e ha ve ex pl ai ne d th at pe rs ecu ti on “ is an ex tre m e co n c e p t , req ui rin g m or e
t h a n a few is ol at ed in ci de nt s of ve rb al ha ras sm en t or in ti m id at io n, an d.

. . m ere ha ra ss m en t do es no t am ou nt to pe rs ecu ti on .” Se pu lv ed a , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 31 (q uo ta ti on s an d al te rat io n om it te d)

. Fo r ex am pl e, we ha ve reject ed a cl ai m of
pe rs ecu t i o n whe re th e pe ti ti on er was arre st ed fo r pa rti ci pa ti ng in a st ud en t de m on st rat io n, in te rro ga te d an d be at en fo r fiv e ho ur s, de ta in e d fo r fo ur da y s, an d

m on it or ed by au th or it ie s aft er hi s re le as e. Ka ze mza de h , 57 7 F .3d at 1 35 3; se e al so Zh en g v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 45 1 F.3 d 12 87 , 12 89 -9 1 (1 1t h Ci r. 20 06 ) (co nc lu di ng th at

an al ie n di d no t su ffer pe rs ecu ti on whe re au th or it ie s d e t a i n e d h im fo r fiv e da y s, fo rced hi m to watc h re-e du cat io n m at eri al s, m ad e hi m st an d in th e su n fo r two ho ur s,

7 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 7 of 10an d, af

te r hi s re le as e, m on it or ed hi m an d o ccas io na ll y

sea rch ed hi s re si de nc e).
If a n a p p l i c an t fai ls to de m on st rat e pa st pe rs ecu ti on , he m ay st il l qu al ify fo r

as y lu m rel ie f by es ta bl is hi ng a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu r e p e rs ecu ti on
. De Sa nt ama ri a v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 5 25 F.3 d 99 9, 10 07 ( 1 1 t h C i r. 20 08 ). Howev er, th e ap pl ic an t’s fear of pe rs ecu ti on m us t be “ su bjec ti ve ly g e n u i n e an d ob jecti ve ly

reas on ab le .” Al Na

jj ar , 25 7 F.3 d at 12 89

. In m os t cas es , th e ob jecti ve pr on g can be
fu lfi ll ed ei th er b y es ta bl is hi ng pa st pe rs ecu ti on or th at th e al ie n ha s a “ go od reas on
to fear fut ur e p ers ecu ti on .” Id

. In add it io n to pr ov id in g an in de pe nd en t av en ue for

as y lu m el ig ib il it y , a n ap pl ic an t who m ak es a sh owi ng of pa st pe rs ecu ti on be ne fit s fro m a reb ut ta bl e pr es um pt i o n of a well -fo un de d fear of fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on
. De Sa nt ama ri a , 52 5 F.3 d at 10 07

. The ap pl ic an t m us t al so sh ow a ne xu s be twee n a
st at ut or il y pr ot ect ed gr ou nd an d th e fear ed pe rs ecu ti on , an d he can d o s o by
pr es en ti ng sp eci fic , de ta il ed fact s sh owi ng a go od reas on to f e a r t h a t he wil l be

“ si ng le d ou t” fo r pe rs ecu ti on on acco un t of the st at ut or il y pr ot ect ed fact or
. For gu e v. U.S. Att ’y Gen

. , 40 1 F .3d 12 82 , 12 86 (11 th Cir . 20 05 ).
In th is cas e, su bs ta nt ia l ev id e nc e su pp or ts th e IJ ’s an d th e BIA’s co nc lu si on th at S c u r t u l d id no t su ffer pe rs ecu ti on whi le li vi ng in Mo ld ov a. Sp eci fic al ly,
Scu rtu l’s t es ti m on y

est ab li sh ed th at , aft er h e pa rti ci pa te d in a la rg e p ol it ic al pro te st

on Apr il 7, 20 09 , he was de ta in ed an d be at en by po li ce, res ul ti ng in a le g in jury an d

8 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 8 of 10br ui se s. Howev er, th e be at in g la st ed on ly 15 m in ut es be fo re he was rel eas ed , an d he

di d no t se ek m ed ic al tre at m en t un ti l th e fo ll o w i n g d ay
. W hi le he was req ui red to

wear a cas t for ten da y s, he di d no t te st ify th at he st ay ed ov ern ig ht in th e ho sp it al or th at he su ffer ed an y lo ng -te rm in juri es
. On ap pe al , S cu rtu l arg ue s t ha t t he in ci de nt

cau se d hi m to su ffer “ ps y ch ol og ic al tra um a,” bu t he fai ls to id en ti fy an y ev id en ce to

su pp or t t h i s c l a im , an d du rin g hi s te st im on y be fo re th e IJ , he on ly di sc us se d hi s ph y si cal in

juri es
. In su m , th e reco rd do es no t es ta bl is h t ha t t he Apri l 2 00 9 in ci de nt

was su ffi ci en tl y ex tre m e to sh ow pa st pe rs ecu ti on , as we ha ve he ld th at m uc h wor se
tre at m en t th an a 15 -m in ut e d e t en ti on an d be at in g was in su ffi ci en t to co ns ti tu te
pe rs ecu ti on
. Se e e.g
. Ka ze mza de h , 57 7 F.3 d at 13 53 (co nc lu di ng th at a fo ur -d ay d et ai nm en t an d a fiv e-h ou r in te rro ga ti on an d be at in g was in su ffi ci en tl y se ve re to

co ns ti tu te pe rs ecu ti on ); Zh en g , 45 1 F.3 d at 12 89 -9 1 (co nc l u d i ng th at a fiv e-d ay de ta in m en t d id no t ri se to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on ).
As to fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on , Scu rtu l su gg es ts th at , be cau se he was su m m on ed fo r

a po li ce in te rro ga ti on aft er th e Apr il 20 09 in ci de nt , he wou ld be im m ed ia te ly arre st ed

an d pe rs ecu te d if he is rem ov ed to Mo ld ov a. Howev er, th is ev id en ce, wit ho ut m or e, do es no t es ta bl is h th at Scu rtu l ha d an ob jecti ve ly r e a s o n a b le , well -fo un de d fear of
fu tu re pe rs ecu ti on
. Se e Al Na jj ar , 25 7 F.3 d a t 1 2 8 9

. To th e co nt rary, hi s own
te st i mo ny su gg es te d th at he is un li ke ly to be “ si ng le d ou t” fo r pe rs ecu ti on if he

9 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 9 of 10ret ur ns to Mo l d o v a
. Se e For gu e , 40 1 F.3 d at 12 86

. Sp eci fic al ly, al th ou gh he ha d
be en act iv e in po li ti cal org an iz at io ns , app ro xi m at el y 10 ,00 0 p ro te st or s pa rti ci pa te d
in th e Apr il 20 09 pr ot es t, an d he was no t on e of th e pr ot es t’s le ad ers
. Fu r t he r, al th ou gh Scu rtu l ha d be en su m m on ed to a po li ce in te rro ga ti on in 20 09 an d hi s pa ren ts ha d be en th reat en ed in Nov em be r 20 10 , ev id en ce al so sh owe d th at th e Mo ld ov an
go ve rn m en t ha d in it ia te d cri m in al pr os ecu ti on s ag ai ns t man y o f th e po li ce of fic ers in vo lv ed in di sp ers in g th e Apr il 20 09 pr ot es t, an d th e go ve rn m en t ha d de cl a r e d a

“ to ta l am ne st y ” fo r th e pr ot es t o r s i n v o l ve d. Thu s, th e reco rd su pp or ts th e IJ an d
BIA’s co nc lu si on t ha t Scu rtu l fai le d to es ta bl is h an ob jecti ve ly reas on ab le fear of
fu tu re p ers ecu ti on
. Se e Al Na jj ar , 25 7 F .3d at 1 28 9.
Bec au se Scu rtu l ha s fai le d to es ta bl is h el ig ib il it y fo r as y lu m , he al so fai le d to
qu al i f y fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al

. Se e id

. at 12 92 -9 3. Fu rth erm or e, as to CAT
pr ot ect io n, he ne ve r al le ge d be fo re th e BIA or in hi s br ie f to th is Co ur t th at he wou ld
li ke ly be to rtu red in Mo ld ov a by, or wit h th e acq ui es cen ce of , go ve rn m en t of

fic ia ls

. To do ro vi c , 62 1 F.3 d at 13 2 4. Acco rd in gl y , he ha s ab an do ne d hi s cl ai m th at he is
el ig ib le for CAT pro te ct io n. Se e S ep ul ved a, 40 1 F .3d at 1 22 8 n .2

. F o r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we de ny Scu rtu l’s an d St ud io no va ’s pe ti ti on f o r

rev ie w.
PETI TI ON DENI ED

.

10 Case: 12-10803 Date Filed: 12/05/2012 Page: 10 of 10