Political consultant Luis Peche Arteaga and human rights activist Yendri Velásquez were attacked with firearms on Monday afternoon in northern Bogotá, Colombia, where both are exiled after fleeing persecution by the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela.
According to initial reports, the two activists were shot at least ten times from a car as they left the building where they live in the Colombian capital.
The incident took place on a public street, and according to witnesses at the scene, the attackers repeatedly fired their weapons before fleeing the scene.
Neighbors and workers in the area assisted the victims until medical teams arrived. Peche and Velásquez suffered gunshot wounds and were immediately taken to a clinic, where they received medical attention and were stabilized. Sources at the health center confirmed that both are out of danger.
Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, María Corina Machado, condemned the attack and called on Gustavo Petro's government to conduct an"exhaustive" investigation.
“This attack constitutes a serious aggression not only against them, but against all the work of protecting and promoting human rights in the region,” Machado emphasized.
He also called for the adoption of all necessary measures to protect the remaining Venezuelans exiled in Colombian territory from the threat posed by transnational political persecution.
In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro assured that “all Venezuelan citizens who want to seek asylum in Colombia, regardless of their ideas, are welcome, as has been demonstrated in recent years.”
Petro emphasized that no one can claim that his government has harassed Venezuelan migrants for their opinions and stressed that"they have expressed themselves freely and will continue to do so."
He announced that the National Protection Unit (UNP) will expand measures to protect human rights activists of any nationality.
Yendri Velásquez is part of the Amnesty International team and is recognized in the migrant community of Bogotá as an LGBTI activist.
He has lived in Colombia for over a year after agents of the Chavista regime detained him and temporarily disappeared him as he attempted to leave Venezuela through Maiquetía International Airport to travel to a UN conference. Since arriving in Colombia, Velásquez has requested asylum and participated in public campaigns defending the rights of migrants and sexual minorities.
For his part, Luis Peche, director of the political consulting firm Sala 58 and a dual Venezuelan-Colombian citizen, decided to leave Caracas last May. His forced departure was motivated by direct repression: the kidnapping of his close friend, journalist Carlos Marcano, carried out by Chavista intelligence agents and documented by journalistic organizations and networks supporting the independent press.
Following the attack, the Colombian Ombudsman's Office issued a statement on the social network X rejecting the attack and highlighting the profile of those affected.
“ We reject the attack that occurred today in northern Bogotá against two Venezuelan citizens, including Yendri Velásquez, a human rights defender, LGBTIQ+ activist and asylum seeker in Colombia ,” the state agency said.
“ Yendri, like many other social leaders, has turned to the Ombudsman's Office seeking support in processing her application for international protection, after having to flee her country of origin due to persecution arising from her work defending human rights ,” the Ombudsman's Office added.
In its message, the organization reiterated Colombia's obligation to guarantee the safety of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from Venezuela.
“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, guaranteeing their rights,” the statement emphasized. It also called on the Attorney General's Office to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances of the attack and strengthen protections for the victims.
The Ombudsman's Office reiterated: " We reiterate our rejection of all forms of violence, stigmatization, or discrimination against people seeking refuge and asylum in the country. We will continue working to ensure that the right to migrate is respected and that the rights of all migrants and refugees seeking a safe place to rebuild their lives in Colombia are promoted and guaranteed."
Both human rights organizations and migrant groups have expressed concern about the increase in threats and attacks targeting Venezuelan opposition figures living abroad. The attack against Peche and Velásquez comes amid concerns about the safety of social leaders who have reported persecution and reprisals after being forced to leave Venezuela.
