(AFP) – Jan 24, 2008

DEBAK, Poland (AFP) — Thousands of Chechen refugees in Poland have just one dream: to reach Western Europe, particularly France, thanks to the expansion of the borderless Schengen zone a month ago.

"I'd like to go to France. Everyone here would like to go to France," says Ruslan, a forty-something Chechen who declined to reveal his family name.

Ruslan arrived from Grozny, the war-ravaged capital of the restless Russian republic, a month ago.

He now wants to leave the Debak refugee centre, near the Polish capital Warsaw, to head for France.

"We can't live here, living conditions are poor. I want to leave for France. Nicolas Sarkozy could certainly do something for us," he says.

In Debak, most Chechen refugees share his dream. Since Poland joined the Schengen free-travel zone, they believe it's easier to make it come true.

At the stroke of midnight on December 21, borders between 15 older Schengen member-states and nine new mostly ex-communist countries fell away, making passage to the West appear to be more simple -- provided one can enter the zone, because new member states have beefed up their external border controls.

"Many people, mostly from the Caucasus region, arrived in Poland before December 21, hoping to travel to more affluent Western European countries and out of fear Poland would close its (eastern) border," explains Waldemar Mikolajczyk, deputy director of the Debak centre.

"In September-October, there were about a hundred people arriving every day, while in the last half of December there were between 250 to 300," he said. The flow has since abated somewhat.

The majority of refugees don't intend to stay in Poland, according to Mikolajczyk.

Between December 21 and January 7 around 1,300 people left Polish refugee centres, he said. "One day 32 people missed role call in the Debak centre." Since January 7, another 479 people have disappeared.

Many have been detained en route to Western Europe. Under EU legislation, they should have requested asylum in the first secure country in which they arrive -- in this case, Poland.

Two days after Poland joined the Schengen zone, 48 Chechens were detained aboard a train from Warsaw to Vienna.

Another 59, including 28 children, were caught aboard a train from the Polish capital to Berlin, apparently also bound for France which refugees believe is more welcoming as it is already home to a sizable community of Chechen asylum-seekers.

Several days later, 28 other Chechens, including 12 children, were also detained during an yet another illegal crossing attempt.

Recently, the number of Chechens leaving Poland appears to have somewhat diminished.

"They are in touch with those who left and failed to reach their destination. Some of them ended up in closed deportation centres" in Western Europe, Mikolajczyk explains.

Khamid, also in his forties, says he fled Chechnya for "reasons of personal security".

Chechnya has been ravaged by two Russian military campaigns over the last 13 years to crush a separatist movement. Small-scale guerrilla attacks against Russian forces and clashes between among pro- and anti-government Chechen groups remain frequent in the province.

Having arrived in Poland in September, Khamid made his way to Austria illegally on foot and by train.

Upon arrival he contacted the Austrian police and to his dismay was placed in a detention centre and deported back to Poland.

Since his return he has been living in Debak in a small room jammed with three bunk-beds.

On the wall, a hand-drawn picture of a mosque and political map of the world, in which the borders of all European countries are well detailed. Chechnya is shown as an integral part of Russia.

Near the window, a folded blanket serves as a prayer carpet.

Today Khamid hopes Poland will grant him refugee status.

"I want to stay in Poland because the people here welcome us and understand our situation. If I don't get it, I'd like to go to France. Over there, the people are also welcoming," he says.

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