Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono Under Hungarian Protection After Pagers Linked to Attacks

The woman linked to the recent pager explosions in Lebanon and Syria is under Hungarian secret service protection, according to her mother. Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, CEO of Budapest-based BAC Consulting, has not been seen publicly since the attacks on Tuesday, which targeted Hezbollah and are widely attributed to Israel. Her mother, Beatrix Barsony-Arcidiacono, stated that Cristiana has received threats and is in a secure location.

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Company's Role and Reactions

BAC Consulting came under scrutiny after Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese company, claimed it authorised BAC to use its name on the pagers involved in the attack. However, they insisted that BAC was responsible for their manufacture and design. A Hungarian government spokesperson clarified that the pagers never entered Hungary and that BAC Consulting acted only as an intermediary.

The attacks this week involved both pagers and walkie-talkies, resulting in at least 37 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have accused Israel of being behind these incidents, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. The Hungarian national security authorities have not commented on the situation.

Company Background and Operations

BAC Consulting operates from a shared building in Budapest without a physical office. The company lists various functions such as sugar production and jewellery sales. In 2022, it earned USD 7,25,000 in revenue but saw a decrease to USD 5,93,000 in 2023. Last year, it spent about USD 3,24,000 on equipment.

Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono's mother emphasised that her daughter was merely a broker and had no direct involvement with the pagers. She also mentioned that the items did not pass through Budapest or get produced in Hungary. The company's website has been offline since Wednesday.

Personal Background of Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono

Cristiana was born in Sicily and studied at the University of Catania before earning her PhD from University College London. She worked in Paris and Vienna before moving to Budapest in October 2016 to care for her grandmother. In May 2022, she established BAC Consulting.

On social media, Cristiana describes herself as a strategic adviser with experience at major organisations like the International Atomic Energy Agency. Her LinkedIn profile confirms her academic background and collaboration with Hungarian physicist Akos Kover during her studies.

Akos Kover confirmed Cristiana's enrollment at University College London and their joint publications but noted he was unaware of her activities beyond academia. He stated: "At the time, we also published some joint articles. I am not aware of her other activities."