""This attack constitutes a serious aggression not only against them but against all the work of protecting and promoting human rights in the region," said Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was last week awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her pro-democracy activism. Writing on social media, Machado said that Velasquez and Peche had been "persecuted" in Venezuela by the regime of leaderNicolas Maduro, and called on the Colombian government to conduct a "thorough, transparent, and urgent investigation.""
""Yendri Velasquez, a human rights and LGBTQ+ activist, and Luis Peche, a political analyst, were exiting a building in the north of Bogota when two unidentified gunmen opened fire at around midday. Both men, who have been living in Colombia since September 2024, were said to be in a stable condition in hospital, with Velasquez set to undergo surgery. Velasquez and Peche had left Venezuela last year alleging political persecution.""
Two Venezuelan activists were shot and injured in northern Bogotá in a suspected targeted, hitman-style attack as they exited a building around midday. Yendri Velasquez, a human rights and LGBTQ+ activist, and Luis Peche, a political analyst, were both hospitalized and reported in stable condition, with Velasquez scheduled for surgery. Both men had been living in Colombia since September 2024 after leaving Venezuela alleging political persecution. Maria Corina Machado condemned the attack as a serious aggression against human rights work and demanded a thorough, transparent, and urgent investigation. Velasquez founded the Venezuelan Observatory of LGBTQ+ Violence and had been arrested at Caracas's main international airport; Peche advised Venezuela's National Assembly in 2017 and 2018. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Venezuelan asylum seekers are welcome in Colombia.
Read at www.dw.com
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