This Monday, October 13, Luis Alejandro Peche and Yendri Omar Velásquez, Venezuelans living in Colombia, were in the north of Bogotá when they were caught by hitmen who shot them repeatedly.

In this regard, opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado, sent a message on her personal account on X.

"I denounce and condemn the attack perpetrated this Monday, October 13, in Bogotá, Colombia, against Venezuelan human rights activists," Machado said.

"This attack constitutes a serious aggression not only against them, but against all the work of protecting and promoting human rights in the region," the opposition leader denounced.

"We ask the Colombian authorities and the government of President Gustavo Petro to conduct a thorough, transparent, and urgent investigation to clarify the facts, identify those responsible, and ensure justice," Machado added.

For its part, the Ombudsman's Office condemned the attack that occurred this Monday in northern Bogotá against the two Venezuelan citizens, requesting asylum in Colombia.

"The Venezuelan people deserve to live in peace and democracy. While in Colombian territory, migrants and refugees must have the support and guidance of the authorities, to guarantee their rights," says the Ombudsman's statement.

"We urge the Attorney General's Office to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to clarify the facts and adopt urgent protective measures for the victims," the state agency added.

The Ombudsman's Office stated that Yendri, like many other social leaders, had come to the entity"seeking support for the processing of her application for international protection, after having had to flee her country of origin due to persecution arising from her work in defense of human rights."

President Gustavo Petro also spoke out on the matter on his X account and rejected the attack against the two Venezuelans in the country's capital.

"All Venezuelan citizens who wish to seek asylum in Colombia, regardless of their beliefs, are welcome, as has been demonstrated over the years. No one can say that the government has bothered them, regardless of their ideas. They have expressed themselves freely, and this will continue," Petro said.

“ The UNP will expand the protection of human rights activists from any country in the world in Colombia. We know what the violent groups are seeking in this case. We know about the meeting of the coordinated mafias in Cúcuta. Those who want peace will be given a helping hand; the rest will be confronted decisively,” the president added.

Finally, Venezuelan President-elect Edmundo González also took the opportunity to denounce the incident on his social media platform.

"Both fled persecution, seeking refuge and protection in Colombia, but transnational violence caught up with them in exile. Yendri requested asylum and has not yet received a response," González said.

Meanwhile, the Unitary Platform joined in the condemnation of the attack against Venezuelan activists and refugees Luis Peche Arteaga and Yendri Velásquez.

“No act of violence or intimidation will silence the voices of those who fight for freedom, justice, and human rights,” the letter reads.