Alexandra Elbakyan Closed Sci-Hub for Russian Users | Hacker News Reader

Alexandra Elbakyan Closed Sci-Hub for Russian Users

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Today Alexandra Elbakyan closed Sci-Hub for Russian users. Russian users currently see Alexandra’s note explaining her reasons for shutting it down in Russia instead of Sci-Hub main page. The reasons cite: 2 years of continued harassment of Alexandra on the Russian-speaking Internet. Inappropriate, abusive behavior of Russian scientists in regards to Alexandra, including reporting her as ‘crazy’, and naming a parasitic insect in her honor. Some of these ‘scientists’ occupy high-rank positions in the Russian Academy of Sciences and are very vocal and organized in their insults towards Alexandra. Meanwhile, people attacking her did not hesitate to proceed using Sci-Hub. Source: http://sci-hub.cc/ Relevant article in Russian: https://www.popmech.ru/science/news-385562-sayt-sci-hub-prekratil-rabotu-na-territorii-rossii/

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I'm a completely uninvolved party, never even visited sci-hub.cc before.

The text which arguments the block (as read here: https://polit_satira.d3.ru/osnovatelnitsa-saita-sci-hub-alek...), makes an impression that the person who wrote it is mentally really not quite well. For instance, the text start "neutrally" describing situation around Alexandra, referring to her in third person and in the middle switches to first person, direct insults and invective. Signed by herself. The text is not healthy.

Well, while the text might not be well thought out and calculated, given what comments and level of disrespect she was facing online (maybe offline as well), the tone of this text is not that surprising. As for mental health of the author, we have 0 info about it and we are not doctors to speculate.

It's not just this text (which for a russian reader makes very troubling impression). There are many reports of further inadequate behaviour of Alexandra. This might be a result of online pressure, but in any case situation around Sci-Hub does not make a healthy impression at all.

Yeah there are many reports like this, but I think Alexandra behaves quite ok in the given circumstances. Actually these reports of her "inadequate" behavior (mostly by people who intentionally blackmail her and behave no better themselves) is what she protests against as she suspects that it is an organized attempt to harm her reputation and project, and it is very likely that it really is. Her communication style is often harsh, and some of her views are quite unusual, but this is not a crime and definitely not enough to label someone insane or treat like she is treated.

"to remove all barriers in the way of science" they say...

..but not for those who belittles and represses science. I guess she tries to influence malicious political practices and public opinions protesting against them this way.

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