Bogotá Attack Targets Two Venezuelan Activists Escaping Maduro’s Regime
In Bogotá, a shocking attack unfolded as Venezuelan activists Yendri Velásquez and Luis Peche were ambushed in a vehicle. Colombian authorities identified this as a sicariato, a hitman-style attack, occurring at 3:00 pm on a Monday. The activists were leaving a building when gunfire erupted, hitting Velásquez eight times and Peche six times. Both thankfully survived, with Velásquez undergoing three surgeries and Peche one. They are both now in stable condition.
Exiled for Activism Against Maduro’s Regime
Velásquez and Peche relocated to Colombia in September 2024, fleeing Venezuela following electoral fraud and subsequent political repression. Since 2012, Yendri Velásquez, 32, has championed LGBTQ+ rights in Venezuela and led the Observatory of LGBTQ+ Violence. His advocacy has often been targeted by Maduro’s security forces. In 2024, Velásquez was detained, tortured, and subsequently exiled, unable to legally leave Colombia due to confiscation of his passport.
Political Background and Forced Exile
Luis Peche, a political consultant and international affairs expert, once served the Venezuelan National Assembly and now leads the Sala 58 analysis firm. He sought refuge in Colombia after his journalist friend Carlos Marcano faced arbitrary detention in May 2025. Peche’s commitment to promoting electoral participation and pro-democracy efforts placed him in the crosshairs of Maduro’s regime.
Attack Details and Investigation
At least three perpetrators are believed to have executed the attack, following Velásquez and Peche’s vehicle closely before launching the assault. The attackers’ vehicle, later found in Suba, contained two pistols. Despite the severity of the situation, Colombian authorities have no records of threats against the activists this year.
Reactions from the International Community
Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader, condemned the attack, seeing it as an assault on human rights advocacy. Historically, Venezuelan refugees and dissidents have faced violence abroad, including the chilling case of Ronald Ojeda, a former military dissident murdered in Chile.
Colombia’s Role and Response
President Gustavo Petro expressed openness to Venezuelan asylum seekers despite not addressing the attack directly. He highlighted Colombia’s welcoming stance towards politically persecuted Venezuelans, though protection measures remain unannounced.
- Colombia hosts around 2 million Venezuelan refugees.
- National Police have yet to enhance security protocols.
- Advocates demand transparent investigations and better protective measures.
The Bogotá attack underscores the evolving cross-border threat from Venezuela’s political repression. The incident places Colombia under scrutiny for its handling of Venezuelan political exiles, many of whom, like Julio Borges, have previously left due to insufficient protection.
