Anony: Also note that the Guardian is a derivative of the JW press releases on the topic. There isn't much substance as to the reason Russia has come to that decision nor the historical or contemporary religious rights in Russia or the fact that pretty much all extremist religions (including many Christian and Islamic denominations) have similar bans.
I concur with you. This is a fluff piece with WT roots.
This is the website I visit to get detailed reports on what is happening inside Russia with the JWs:
Forum 18 publishes details of all the religious court cases inside Russia, including many of faiths other than the JWs.
Where the JWs have really fell afoul of the law in Russia is by insisting on telling others that their religion is bad and that the JWs is the only right one. That is strictly prohibited in Russia but the JWs just can't keep their hateful views to themselves.
The most recent update from Forum 18 reports this:
The number of prosecutions under Criminal Code Article 174 to punish individuals for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief appears to be increasing. Since the new Criminal Code came into force on 1 January 2015, Article 174 criminal cases are known to have been launched or to have been underway against 19 individuals in 20 cases (see full list below, compiled from court records and other information).
Of these 20 known cases: five have ended in convictions (3 Muslims, 1 Jehovah's Witness, 1 Seventh-day Adventist); one trial is currently underway (Muslim); and five cases are still being investigated (2 Muslim, 1 Jehovah's Witness, while atheist Aleksandr Kharlamov is facing two investigations – see list below). In nine known cases, Article 174 cases were launched but were then closed down, with the individuals instead fined under the Administrative Code.