Spanish authorities are investigating Maria Oleinikova and her children, who run a tapas bar and a wine-and-beer export company in Barcelona, for allegedly exporting dual-use chemicals — substances with both civilian and military applications — to Russia, in violation of EU sanctions.

Import data shows that Oleinikova also holds a majority stake in a Russian chemical company called Catrosa Reactiv, which received at least 36 shipments of sanctioned chemicals from Spain between 2022 and 2024, including one shipment that came directly from her wine-and-beer company. Most of the other shipments were made by a Spanish company called Scharlab S.L.

Since 2022, Catrosa Reactiv’s clients in Russia have included at least six sanctioned entities linked to the defence sector and weapons production.

In 2023, NK Muras shipped chemical products — including the sanctioned substance NMP, originating from Spain — to Catrosa Reactiv, and received more than $240,000 from Catrosa Reactiv for three shipments of unspecified pharmaceutical ingredients.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Scharlab and NK Muras to respond. Neither of the company replied.