Serbian authorities claimed they seized three "fully armed" Kosovo police officers inside Serbia near their shared border, while Kosovo officials claimed the officers were "kidnapped" while patrolling Kosovo territory.
Wednesday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Serbia of kidnapping the men and demanded their release. He said they were apprehended 300 meters (330 yards) inside Kosovar territory, close to the boundary.
"The entry of Serbian forces onto Kosovo's territory is an act of aggression designed to escalate tensions and destabilize the region," wrote Kurti on his Facebook page.
According to Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla, the "kidnapping" "violates any agreement and is contrary to international norms."
The minister demanded that the international community "immediately increase pressure on Serbia to not only release our police officers but also cease its provocations"
However, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the three were apprehended 1.8 kilometers (1 mile) inside Serbian territory near the village of Gnjilica. In addition, he charged Kurti with inciting violence.
"We are at a crossroads as to whether or not we will have harmony... Albin Kurti is the only person in the Balkans who wishes to incite conflict at any cost, Vucic said during a live TV broadcast.
He refuted Kurti's claim that Serbian police had entered Kosovo, stating, "They did not even set foot there."
Serbia also stated that the officers had automatic weapons, GPS devices, maps, and other military equipment.
A video released by the Serbian police showed masked men dragging a group of handcuffed men away.
Vucic stated that Belgrade would submit all evidence and accept an international investigation into the arrests.
He added that to defuse tensions, his government may relocate some of its troops stationed five kilometers (3.1 miles) from the border to garrisons inside Serbia. "It will be difficult to return to normalcy," Vucic remarked.
In response to the arrests, Kosovo has forbidden all vehicles with Serbian license plates from entering its territory, an official from the interior ministry told Reuters.
The detentions may exacerbate tensions in the predominantly Serb northern region of Kosovo, which borders Serbia and has witnessed sporadic outbreaks of violence over the past few weeks.
In 2008, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia, nearly a decade after the 90% ethnic Albanian majority rose against Serbian rule.
Along with its critical allies, China and Russia, Belgrade has refused to recognize Kosovo's independence, preventing it from obtaining a United Nations seat.
In 1999, a NATO bombardment campaign expelled Serbian security forces from Kosovo, but Belgrade has continued to view it as a province in the south.
Last month, 30 NATO peacekeepers and 52 Serbs were injured in confrontations in four predominantly Serb municipalities outside Serbia in northern Kosovo.
It ignited after Serbs rallied against ethnic Albanian mayors who moved into their offices after a local election in which only 3.5% of eligible voters participated. Local Serbs boycotted the election.
