Kosovo's boxers have today been denied access to Serbia for the third time.

In a letter to AIBA President Umar Kremlev, Krasniqi thanked the AIBA office for its communication during the incident, which included offering recommendations on gaining entry to Serbia. 

Krasniqi said that the Organising Committee of the World Championships had to abide by rules set out in the AIBA Charter and the Olympic Charter, and allow Kosovo's boxers access to Belgrade to participate.

"It is also important to mention that the Organising Committee, who has taken the responsibility to host the event is obliged to work under the conditions of respecting the AIBA Charter, thus create equal conditions for all Member Federations to compete and perform in the sports arenas," wrote Krasniqi.

"Kosovo boxing team has been a victim of a political agenda in Serbia, and the case has been used for purposes not connected to sport or the rules of the fair play."

"It is also important to mention that the Organising Committee, who has taken the responsibility to host the event is obliged to work under the conditions of respecting the AIBA Charter, thus create equal conditions for all Member Federations to compete and perform in the sports arenas," said Krasniqi in the letter.

"Kosovo boxing team has been a victim of a political agenda in Serbia, and the case has been used for purposes not connected to sport or the rules of the fair play."

Although initially promised that Kosovo would be allowed to compete in national uniform and use the state flag, AIBA later informed the team that the Organising Committee would not allow for the national flag and symbols to be used at the venue for the World Championships.

Instead, Kosovo would need to compete under the AIBA flag in a comprise - but Kremlev has called the situation "unacceptable".

AIBA yesterday insisted it was against sport being used as a political platform.

"The Kosovo Boxing Federation has been a full member of AIBA since November 2014 and is expected to attend the Men's World Boxing Championships," an AIBA spokesperson told insidethegames.

"AIBA expects that the Kosovo Boxing Federation's delegation will be treated no differently than the delegation of any other AIBA member.

"AIBA aims to provide a welcoming home for every boxer and the world of boxing has no borders."

Krasniqi said a registration deadline of 12pm local time today would not be met, making the team's participation unlikely.

His letter ended asking by Kremlev to consider the AIBA Charter, and underlining that any flag restrictions was a political decision.

"In case it is decided that Kosovo should be the only country participating without any national symbols, we will take this as message which clearly points out that politics have won the battle against sport and any component of the fair play spirit and Olympism," added Krasniqi.

"Regardless of where the event is taking place, this is an AIBA event under AIBA regulations and in line with AIBA Charter, thus the hosting city can only host it if AIBA requirements are met."

Today, Kremlev responded to Krasniqi's letter, stating he has written to the Serbian Boxing Federation and urging it to speak to local and border authorities.

In a letter to Serbian Boxing Federation President Nenad Borovcanin, Kremlev said the situation was "unacceptable", calling for "great urgency" to resolve the issue and outlining the compromises made by AIBA.

Kremlev completed his letter to Krasniqi by assuring "lessons would be learned" from the situation.

"Should our attempts prove unsuccessful, then I am sure there will be lessons to be both learned and shared," said Kremlev.

"For now, however, let us continue to work for a favourable outcome in the hours ahead."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) added a statement of its own, questioning AIBA's decision to award Serbia the World Championships.

"We have had no information about the circumstances of the allocation, or the terms, or the contractual partners of AIBA, with regard to these World Championships," the IOC said.

"It appears that AIBA has not applied the necessary due diligence before allocating this tournament to Belgrade, despite the fact that the IOC has repeatedly advised the International Federations of the necessity of such due dilligence.

"Therefore this incident, which is detrimental to the athletes of Kosovo, adds to the grave concerns that the IOC has with regard to the governance of this suspended International Federation."

The IOC has suspended its recognition of AIBA, and an IOC Boxing Task Force led by International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe instead oversaw the Olympic boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020.

Kosovo and Serbia have had strict border restrictions in place in wake of Kosovo's self-declared independence in 2008.

Travellers have often had to journey into North Macedonia or Montenegro to move between the two states.

In late September, border tensions seemed to ease after a standoff caused by a licence-plate dispute.

Kosovo is recognised as an independent state by 97 of the 193 United Nations members.

Some of these include the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state, but instead as an autonomous part of Serbia.

A group of 15 nations previously recognised Kosovo before withdrawing the status.

Many countries which do not support Kosovo's independence are those with separatist movements within their own nations, such as Spain.

The Spanish Government refused to grant Kosovo permission to compete under its own flag at the 2018 Karate World Championships, before backing down following pressure from the international sporting community.

Three boxers, a selector and a member of staff were travelling from Kosovo to Serbia for the World Championships.

Competition is to start tomorrow at the Championships, ending on November 6.