The intra-FSU politics of Sci-Hub have been the subject of speculation before (https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/8/16985666/alexandra-elbakyan-sci-hub-open-access-science-papers-lawsuit), with Elbakyan's presumed residence in Russia complicating the hypothetical narratives.  She was interviewed in the propaganda film *Paywall*, but was not asked questions that would clarify the funding, control, and operation of Sci-Hub.  Now today, this news, presumably a complication: