What We've Learned About the Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Norwegian Links To Hezbollah's Pagers
“Together with the National Revenue Agency, the Interior Ministry, and the Customs Agency, it was established beyond doubt that no communication devices were imported, exported, or manufactured in Bulgaria,” the agency said.
Additionally, the agency claimed that Norta Global also “did not carry out financial operations that would fall within the scope of the Law on Measures Against the Financing of Terrorism and it does not have any commercial relations with individuals or legal entities under sanctions by the UN Security Council or the Council of the European Union.”
RFE/RL’s own investigation into international trade databases found no import or export records for Norta Global or from Bulgaria to Taiwan.
The Hungarian Connection
While information about Rinson Jose is sparse, the public profile of the Hungarian woman behind BAC Consulting — the company named as the producer of the pagers by the Taiwanese company Golden Apollo — is much more substantial.
Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, confirmed her involvement with the pagers to NBC on September 18, but said she was only an intermediary.
Following the news, the website of BAC Consulting was deleted on September 18, but the archived versions claimed to offer consulting in environmental, developmental, and international affairs.
The site listed Barsony-Arcidiacono as CEO and founder, identifying her as a strategic adviser in innovation and internal affairs. Her diverse background spans physics, sustainability, business development, digitalization, and even arts and crafts. She has cited organizations like UNESCO, the European Commission, and the International Atomic Energy Agency as among her previous employers.
Among her academic achievements, she boasts of a PhD and several master’s degrees from prestigious U.K. institutions. While RFE/RL confirmed her PhD from University College London, other universities have not yet responded.
The Hungarian news outlet HVG verified her 2008 internship at the International Atomic Energy Agency; additionally, they quoted her former colleague and academic co-author Akos Kover as saying that “Cristiana struggled to find a job after her PhD” and lived with her grandmother, a situation that continued for years.
He also said she did not pursue any scientific work after completing her doctorate and that his own recent attempts to contact her via e-mail were unsuccessful.
Although Barsony-Arcidiacono’s social media presence remains visible, including an Instagram page showcasing her drawings, her digital footprint is beginning to fade. Until recently, she was listed as the chief sustainability officer for Eden Global Impact Group, but the entire “Who We Are” section, including her profile, has now been removed from the page.
Additionally, her LinkedIn profile claims she is on the board of the Earth Child Institute, but the group told the BBC that she has never been part of their board.
RFE/RL has attempted to reach Barsony-Arcidiacono via phone, e-mail, and in person but has not yet been successful.
Riin Aljas is a digital forensics editor for RFE/RL . Balint Szalai is a correspondent for RFE/RL’s Hungarian Service. RFE/RL’s Bulgarian Service relaunched in 2019 after a 15-year absence. This article is reprinted with permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
