A/HRC/42/34 documents. The international human rights framework outlined in the first report of the High Commissioner on cooperation with Georgia remains valid. 29 43. More than ten years after the conflict related to South Ossetia, the absence of a political and legal solution continues to affect the local population and their human rights in and around Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to several sources, the human rights situation in both regions has deteriorated during the reporting period, particularly due to growing restrictions on freedom of movement. 30 According to the submissions by the Government of Georgia and one non-governmental organization, ethnic Georgians continue to face various forms of discrimination in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. OHCHR reiterates that, irrespective of questions related to the status of territories and entities, the authorities in control in Abkhazia and South Ossetia are responsible for upholding the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all people living under their control and for addressing any conduct that affects their human rights. 44. Information available to OHCHR indicates the continuing existence of local mechanisms of relevance for human rights protection in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. OHCHR encourages them to be proactive in the promotion and protection of human rights in and around both regions. 45. Given the fact that international human rights mechanisms lack access to provide a comprehensive account of the human rights situation, the report of Thomas Hammarberg and Magdalena Grono on human rights in Abkhazia, published in July 2017, 31 remains an important reference with regard to human rights issues related to Abkhazia. 32 OHCHR encourages follow-up to their recommendations, and reiterates its availability to provide support in this process. 46. OHCHR also reiterates that a comparable independent baseline study on human rights concerning South Ossetia is needed. 1. Violations of the right to life 47. The death of one individual in custody during the reporting period is of serious concern. The case concerned an ethnic Georgian, Irakli Kvaratskhelia, who died in March 2019, while reportedly in detention in a facility of the Russian border guards in connection with his attempt to cross the Administrative Boundary Line with Abkhazia. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, with the authorities in control in Abkhazia claiming that he committed suicide. The body of the deceased was handed over to the Georgian authorities on 13 March 2019, and the forensic examination and investigation were ongoing as of May 2019. The authorities of the Russian Federation reportedly completed an investigation into the case as well. 48. Concerning the death of another ethnic Georgian, Archil Tatunashvili, in South Ossetia, in February 2018, the Government of Georgia informed OHCHR of the conclusions of the examination made by its Forensic Bureau, which had found signs of torture. It also reported that charges had been brought against the perpetrators identified by the Georgian authorities. During the reporting period, justice has not been delivered in the case, nor in the alleged unlawful death or killing of Giga Otkhozoria and David Basharuli. 33 49. The above-mentioned incidents and the lack of accountability therefor continued to contribute to impunity in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. OHCHR calls on all relevant parties to exert their utmost efforts to clarify the facts in these deaths and to prevent any further arbitrary loss of life in and around both regions. 50. OHCHR received information that the death penalty had been introduced in Abkhazia in April 2019 for drug-related crimes and would be applicable starting in 2020. 29 30 31 32 33 10 A/HRC/36/65, in particular paras. 46, 48, 51, 61, 66–67, 71–72 and 80. Submission of the Government of Georgia; and Council of Europe, SG/Inf(2019)12, paras. 16 and 34. Human Rights in Abkhazia Today (Stockholm, Olof Palme International Center, July 2017). See also A/HRC/39/44, in particular paras. 37, 45–46, 56, 70, 73, 77, 82 and 86. Ibid., paras. 54–55.