A woman connected to the company associated with the recent explosions of pagers in Lebanon and Syria is reportedly being safeguarded by the Hungarian secret services, as disclosed by her mother to The Associated Press. Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono, the CEO of Budapest-based BAC Consulting, has not made any public appearances following the tragic attacks that targeted Hezbollah and have been widely attributed to Israel.
Her mother, Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, mentioned that her daughter has received threats and is currently in a secure location under the protection of the Hungarian secret services. The Hungarian national security authorities have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding this matter.
The attacks, which resulted in the deaths of at least 37 individuals and left over 3,000 wounded, have been condemned by Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, with Israel neither confirming nor denying involvement.
BAC Consulting, the company under scrutiny, was authorized by a Taiwanese firm to use its name on the pagers involved in the attacks. However, Hungarian officials clarified that the pagers were never in Hungary and that BAC Consulting acted solely as an intermediary.
The company, which operates out of Budapest, specializes in various sectors such as environment, development, and international affairs. Despite generating revenue of $725,000 in 2022 and $593,000 in 2023, the company's website has been inaccessible since the incidents.
Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono, who holds a Ph.D. and has a background in strategic advising and business development, has worked with prominent international organizations and venture capital firms. She established the company in question in May 2022 after a career that spanned across London, Paris, Vienna, and Budapest.
Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. from University College London, where she collaborated with a Hungarian physicist. While her scientific work has not been active since then, her past affiliations with reputable institutions have come under scrutiny in light of recent events.
