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ABC News
ABC News
National
Rebecca Armitage and North America correspondent Carrington Clarke in Washington DC

Putin, secret talks and the 'Merchant of Death': US basketball star Brittney Griner's long road to freedom from a Russian penal colony

Brittney Griner Vladimir Putin Viktor Bout Russia Basketball David Whelan Paul Whelan White House Joe Biden Kremlin

When US basketball star Brittney Griner was taken from a Russian penal colony and flown to Abu Dhabi, America's chief hostage negotiator was waiting for her on the tarmac. 

Roger Carstens wanted to be there in person to confirm to Griner what she had been told by her Russian captors, but perhaps could not yet believe.

Her nine-month-long nightmare was over.

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