Polish cyclist's alleged beating over Ukrainian colors turns out to be drunken dispute, Czech police say

The 35-year-old cyclist, Jakub Heisig, was attacked in Ostrava in September while undertaking an 800-kilometer charity ride to raise money for cancer treatment for his pregnant partner, Marcelina, Czech news outlet Novinky reported on November 2.

Following the attack, reports circulated that Polish men had assaulted Heisig while calling him a Ukrainian and a "Banderite" - a derogatory term often used to accuse Ukrainians of nationalism, referring to Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.

The alleged reason was a yellow-and-blue hat bearing the name of Upper Silesia, a region whose traditional colors resemble those of the Ukrainian flag.

But Czech police established a different sequence of events.

According to police spokesperson Eva Michalíková, Heisig met two Slovak men at a nightclub in Ostrava, where they drank alcohol together. The three left the club at around 5 a.m. and began arguing on the street.

The dispute allegedly began after Heisig made offensive remarks about one of the men's mothers. It escalated into a physical assault.

Investigators reconstructed the cyclist's movements using city surveillance cameras after he was unable to provide a complete account of the incident.

The footage established that he was neither wearing nor visibly carrying the yellow-and-blue hat during the confrontation.

Both Slovak men, aged 26, admitted their involvement and have been charged with disorderly conduct. One faces up to three years in prison and the other up to two years.

The story initially attracted widespread attention on social media while Heisig's charity fundraiser was underway.

According to Novinky, the campaign ultimately raised more than 628,000 Polish zlotys, exceeding its original target of 300,000 zlotys.

The fundraiser was intended to cover treatment for his partner, who has cervical cancer.