Case Name: Levon MELIKYAN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2009-03-26
Citations: 320 F. App'x 662
Docket Number: No. 05-75353
Parties: Levon MELIKYAN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: Before: LEAVY, HAWKINS, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 320
Pages: 662–663

Head Matter:
Levon MELIKYAN, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 05-75353.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted March 18, 2009.
Filed March 26, 2009.
Boris Baladjanian, Law Offices of Boris Baladjanian, Valencia, CA, for Petitioner.
CAC-District Counsel, Esq., Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles, CA, Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Mark C. Walters, Esq., Stephen J. Flynn, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Div./Offiee of Immigration Lit., Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: LEAVY, HAWKINS, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Levon Melikyan, a native of the former Soviet Union and citizen of Russia, petitions for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals' order summarily affirming an immigration judge's ("IJ") decision 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. We review for substantial evidence, INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n. 1, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), and deny the petition for review.
The government's expert testimony and investigation reports from the United States embassy in Moscow provide substantial evidence to support the IJ's finding that Melikyan submitted false documents. See Desta v. Ashcroft, 365 F.3d 741, 745 (9th Cir.2004). Because the genuineness of these documents went to the heart of Melikyan's asylum claim, substantial evidence supports the IJ's adverse credibility determination. See id. In the absence of credible evidence, Melikyan's asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003).
Because Melikyan's CAT claim is based on the same evidence the IJ found not credible, and he points to no other evidence to show it is more likely than not he would be tortured if he returns to Russia, his CAT claim fails. See id. at 1157.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.