A recent report by Reuters has unveiled compelling information about Krisztina Barsone Arszidiakono, the Hungarian woman whose name has been tied to the “pager” explosions in Lebanon, targeting members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Who Is Krisztina Barsone Arszidiakono?
According to the report, Krisztina is 49 years old, holding both Italian and Hungarian citizenships. She is fluent in seven languages and holds a PhD in particle physics. Krisztina’s Budapest apartment is reportedly filled with paintings she created, reflecting her artistic side. Her career also includes humanitarian work that took her across Africa and Europe.
The Pager Explosions Connection
Krisztina was revealed to be the CEO and owner of B.A.C Consulting, a company licensed to design “pager” devices in collaboration with the Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo. However, in an interview with NBC News, Krisztina denied manufacturing the devices, stating that she was merely an intermediary, adding: “I believe you misunderstood the situation.”
A Life of Secrecy
Since her involvement in the pager controversy surfaced, Krisztina has not made any public appearances. Neighbors in her old Budapest apartment reported that they had not seen her, and attempts to contact her have gone unanswered. According to Reuters, her apartment in an older building in Budapest remains closed.
A Complex and Mysterious Personality
A social acquaintance of Krisztina, who requested anonymity, described her as someone “easily influenced,” adding that she seemed “good-natured but not like a typical businessperson.” Instead, she appeared to be someone constantly seeking new opportunities and easily excited by fresh ideas.
Professional Setbacks
In 2019, Kilian Kleinschmidt, a former senior UN humanitarian relief director, hired Krisztina to manage a Netherlands-funded program for six months. The project aimed to train Libyans in Tunisia in areas like hydroponics and business development. However, Kleinschmidt labeled her a “bullying manager” and dismissed her before her contract ended, calling her “one of the biggest mistakes of my life.”
Lack of Public Response
Krisztina has not responded to phone calls or emails from Reuters, and no one was present at her Budapest residence during a visit by the agency. A resident of her building, who has lived there for two years, described her as quiet but frequently interacting with others.
An Artistic Side
Krisztina was also involved in a painting club in Budapest, according to the organizer. However, she has not attended the group for about two years. The organizer noted that she seemed more like a businesswoman than an artist but was always enthusiastic and open-minded.
A Quiet Background
One of her former classmates revealed that Krisztina grew up in a modest family in Santa Venerina, a small town in eastern Sicily. Her father was a worker, and her mother a homemaker. In her youth, Krisztina was reserved and quiet.
Academic and Professional Background
In the early 2000s, Krisztina earned her PhD in physics from University College London. Her thesis on “positrons” remains available on the university’s website. However, it seems that she did not pursue an academic career after leaving the university.
Past Colleague’s Insight
Akos Torok, a retired physicist and one of Krisztina’s former professors, collaborated with her on research. He stated that, to his knowledge, Krisztina had not engaged in any scientific work since their joint publications.
Questionable Claims on Her Resume
In her B.A.C Consulting resume, Krisztina described herself as a “board member of the Earth Child Institute,” an educational and environmental charity in New York. However, Donna Goodman, the founder of the institute, told Reuters that Krisztina never played any role there. She merely contacted them in 2018 about a job opening but was never invited to apply.
Krisztina’s resume also listed a position as “project manager” at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2008-2009, where she allegedly organized a nuclear research conference. However, the IAEA confirmed that she only interned there for eight months.
A Dubious Consulting Firm
The B.A.C Consulting website, which was shut down over the weekend, provided little detail about the company’s operations in Hungary. In her resume, Krisztina described herself as a “scientist with a highly diverse background,” using her skills in various interdisciplinary projects to make strategic decisions.
She also claimed: “With excellent analytical, linguistic, and interpersonal skills, I enjoy working and leading in a multicultural environment where diversity, integrity, and humor are valued.”
