The Russian citizens, including three pregnant women and nine children, had been legally residing in Poland where they have applied for refugee status, but are not permitted to enter Germany, despite the lifting of border controls since Poland joined the Schengen zone on December 21, 2007.
The Chechens were traveling in a minibus "intended for nine people, but carrying 20 passengers. This attracted the attention of border guards," a border official said.
"The Chechens had no Schengen visas and said they wanted to pass through Germany to France," he added.
The official said that the Russians had the right to move freely around Poland while their asylum applications were being considered, but that they were prohibited from leaving the country.
In late December, a total of 110 people from Chechnya were detained in Poland within a week attempting to illegally cross the country's borders with the Czech Republic, France and Germany.
