[dartharva]

Doesn't seem very likely. What exactly would the US gain except some face value before "Science Journal" oligarchs (which in itself, doesn't seem valuable)? Sounds like a bad deal if the US ever did any favor for them in exchange of one relatively harmless individual.

Sci-hub likely won't even be hurt if they somehow get Elbakyan. She must have had other people to fall back on for the project, who'll continue to keep the website online.