Uzbek Man Who Sued Wizz Air for Discrimination Rejects €120,000 Settlement Offer

An Uzbek citizen who filed a discrimination complaint against Wizz Air at the European Court of Human Rights has refused a €120,000 compensation offer from the airline.

Sukhrob Ubaydullaev told Kun.uz that Wizz Air contacted him after British lawyers initiated formal correspondence with the company. The airline proposed a large payout on the condition that he withdraw his complaint and stop speaking publicly about the incident.

«They called me while I was in London and offered €120,000 without any apology, asking me not to raise the issue again,» Ubaydullaev said. «I consulted with my mentors and refused. Money is not worth more than dignity.»

The dispute dates back to August 2023, when Ubaydullaev, then a student at Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, was flying home via the Rome–Abu Dhabi–Samarkand route. During his layover in Abu Dhabi, a Wizz Air employee allegedly denied him boarding because of his Uzbek passport. He said staff threatened him with deportation, claimed «even the embassy won’t help,» and provided no explanation. His ticket became invalid, forcing him to borrow money and return home via an alternative route through Istanbul and Kazan.

After repeated unanswered requests for compensation, he filed a complaint with the European Court.

The case gained wider attention after Canadian musician Dave Carroll, known for the viral protest song United Breaks Guitars, released a joint music video with Ubaydullaev. The production involved more than 100 people and has already garnered nearly 150,000 views. Carroll and legal experts independently reviewed the incident and stated that Wizz Air had indeed discriminated against the passenger.

Following the video’s release, Wizz Air’s share price dipped (though no direct link has been confirmed), and the airline soon announced the introduction of a business-class service — a move some observers noted echoed the video’s satirical reference to a «Wizzness class.»

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi previously said it would suspend flights to Uzbekistan from 1 September 2025, citing technical challenges and regional instability.