Earlier this year, Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee took action against Wizz Air following complaints about the airline’s failure to offer safety instructions in the Uzbek language on a flight from Samarkand to Abu Dhabi. Now, another troubling incident has come to light, this time, involving an Uzbek student who claims he was denied boarding without explanation, possibly due to his nationality.
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Suhrob Ubaydullayev, a University of World Languages student in Uzbekistan, was returning home after completing a Work and Travel program in Europe. He had booked a Wizz Air flight from Rome to Abu Dhabi, with a connection onward to Samarkand. According to Ubaydullayev, despite having all required travel documents — including a valid passport, visa, and certificates from Germany’s Federal Employment Agency — he was inexplicably denied boarding at the gate.
“I had all my documents in order,” Ubaydullayev told The Times of Central Asia. “The staff checked them and gave them back to me, but when I reached the gate, they suddenly said I couldn’t fly. No reason. No explanation.”
He claims the airline staff asked him a single question — “Are you from Uzbekistan?” — and upon hearing his affirmative response, refused to let him on board.
What followed, he says, was a humiliating and deeply distressing ordeal: threats of calling the police, warnings that his embassy wouldn’t be able to assist him, and a refusal to provide any written explanation.
“I was speaking English clearly — communication wasn’t an issue,” he told TCA, “but they treated me like a criminal. I believe it was simply because I’m from Uzbekistan.”
Ubaydullayev says that this incident occurred on 31 August 2023. He has repeatedly sent emails to the company requesting compensation. However, most emails went unanswered, or he was told to wait.
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After being left behind in Rome, Ubaydullayev’s troubles worsened. Because he was denied boarding on August 31, Ubaydullayev was at immediate risk of overstaying his visa, which expired on the same day. This meant that any further stay in the Schengen area would make his presence technically illegal under EU immigration law.
He scraped together borrowed funds to fly to Istanbul, where he found himself sleeping on the streets. “I met some Uzbek guys near the Sultan Ahmed Mosque who offered help,” he said. “But they ended up taking my money and disappearing.”
His eventual return home took him through Kazan, Russia, and Osh, Kyrgyzstan, before finally reaching Namangan — emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and over $2,000 in debt.
Now, Ubaydullayev has accused Wizz Air of discrimination, human rights violations, and consumer protection breaches. He has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights and says his lawyers are currently working through the pre-trial phase. “This is about more than me,” he said. “This is a fight for justice — for every Uzbek passenger who deserves to be treated with dignity.”
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In giving a legal assessment of Ubaydullayev’s case to TCA, legal expert Azizbek Odilov says the airline’s actions amount to a clear violation of international and European law.
“The refusal to allow an Uzbek citizen to board a flight based solely on his nationality directly violates the principles of non-discrimination,” Odilov said. “This is a breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.”
Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which has been ratified by Italy, Hungary, and Uzbekistan, states: “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Odilov emphasized that while state authorities are primarily responsible for upholding such treaties, private entities — including airlines — are also bound by these standards under international law.
Furthermore, Wizz Air, as a European carrier based in Hungary, is subject to European Union law. Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits discrimination on the basis of nationality or any other status. Airlines, Odilov says, are legally obligated to offer services without arbitrary or unjustified discrimination.
In addition to international human rights violations, Odilov argues that Wizz Air failed to meet its obligations under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament. This regulation mandates compensation and assistance for passengers who are denied boarding without justification. In particular, Article 7 provides for the payment of compensation to passengers of between €250 and €600, and for the reimbursement of costs associated with delays.
According to Odilov, Wizz Air was legally required to:
- Provide an official explanation for denying boarding;
- Offer an alternative route;
- Refund the full cost of the ticket;
- Pay compensation in accordance with the law;
- Offer food and drink proportional to the delay;
- Allow two phone calls, faxes, or emails;
- Provide hotel accommodation and transport if an overnight stay was necessary.
Beyond the European Court, Odilov says Ubaydullayev has the right to file a formal complaint with Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), one of the bodies tasked with enforcing Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
“This isn’t just about one person,” Odilov told TCA. “It’s about holding companies accountable when they fail to treat people equally. No airline, no country, has the right to discriminate.”
“I didn’t just lose money,” Ubaydullayev said. “I lost peace of mind. I was humiliated, ignored, and left to survive alone. This case isn’t just mine — it belongs to every Uzbek passenger who deserves respect and fair treatment.”
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This is not Wizz Air’s first controversy involving Uzbek citizens. The airline was previously criticized when former Uzbek deputy Rasul Kusherbayev was nearly removed from a flight for requesting safety instructions in Uzbek. That case prompted a national investigation and led to a promise from Wizz Air to include Uzbek-language assistance on flights to and from Uzbekistan starting in 2025.
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In a statement, Wizz Air told TCA: “Wizz Air takes all allegations seriously and is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding this case. At the time of travel in 2023, Uzbekistan citizens were required to hold a valid visa to enter the UAE. As a point-to-point carrier, Wizz Air does not offer connecting flights, and a transit visa would not have been sufficient.
We firmly reject any accusations of discrimination. Wizz Air is committed to inclusivity and equal treatment of all passengers.
Although no official complaint was submitted through our standard claims process, we will contact Mr. Ubaydullayev or his legal representatives to investigate further and work toward a resolution.”
