Besides its extravagant displays of force and harsh sentences, the campaign has another unusual feature: No one really knows why it is happening.
"Nobody knows," Lokshina said. "A lot of people have been trying to figure it out, but nobody really knows."
Unlike efforts to outlaw political opponents of the Kremlin, there is no obvious motive for why Russian authorities have targeted Jehovah's Witnesses. slotpg
Internationally, the group is best known for their proselytising on door steps. They share similar beliefs with many mainstream Christian churches, though they have a number of unique values as well. Some of the beliefs -- such as rejecting blood transfusions -- are controversial, but none are violent.
Jehovah's Witnesses are also forbidden from getting involved in politics, making the campaign even more puzzling.
In the early days of the campaign, some observers believed the campaign might have been launched without the Kremlin's direct involvement.
When Putin was asked about the ban in 2018, he appeared surprised, saying it was "total nonsense" and adding it "should be looked into carefully."
Such words from Putin are usually interpreted as a signal to pull back. But since his remarks, the campaign against the Jehovah's Witnesses has intensified. In the past year, it has spread to Moscow, which had previously been largely spared arrests and raids.
As the campaign becomes broader, some experts have concluded it must be directed from the top of government and at least approved by Putin.
"I think the decisions must be made at the top level," said Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA Center, which studies extremism in Russia.