Case Name: Karo Nazari VAHANIAN, Petitioner, v. John ASHCROFT, Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-05-18
Citations: 97 F. App'x 178
Docket Number: No. 02-73276; Agency No. A72-512-797
Parties: Karo Nazari VAHANIAN, Petitioner, v. John ASHCROFT, Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 97
Pages: 178–179

Head Matter:
Karo Nazari VAHANIAN, Petitioner, v. John ASHCROFT, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 02-73276.
Agency No. [ AXX-XXX-XXX ].
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted May 13, 2004.
Decided May 18, 2004.
Lea Greenberger, Attorney at Law, Encino, CA, for Petitioner.
Regional Counsel, Western Region Immigration & Naturalization Service, Laguna Niguel, CA, District Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, Los Angeles, CA, Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Legal Officer, Office of the District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, James A. Hunolt, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before McKEOWN, BYBEE, Circuit Judges, and BREYER, District Judge.
This panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision, without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
The petitioner seeks review of a final order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirming an order of deportation and denial of asylum. The BIA concluded that the petitioner has not suffered past persecution and is in no danger of future persecution upon his return to Armenia.
The petitioner, formerly a head architect in Armenia, alleges that he would be persecuted upon return to Armenia because of his brief involvement over a decade ago in the national army (HAB), an organization that was loosely affiliated with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation or "Dashnaks." The record indicated that the Dashnaks are no longer at risk of persecution, and in fact, have been recognized by the Armenian government as a political party. Vahanian's own expert could present no evidence of persecution of former HAB members since the Soviet Union fell and Armenia gained its independence. On this record, substantial evidence supports the BIA's finding that the petitioner does not have a reasonable fear of persecution. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483-84, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992).
Furthermore, the petitioner, who was never a member of the Dashnaks, cannot point to actual harm he suffered at the hands of the Armenian government. He conceded that for over three decades he has had "no problems" with the Armenian government. Accordingly, he has not made out a claim of past persecution. See Lim v. INS, 224 F.3d 929, 936 (9th Cir. 2000); cf. Ruano v. Ashcroft, 301 F.3d 1155, 1162 (9th Cir.2002).
Because substantial evidence supports the BIA's decision to deny asylum and withholding of deportation, and Vahanian has not presented any evidence that compels a contrary finding, his petition must be denied.
PETITION DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.