Fugitive NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s offer to testify in Germany about controversial U.S. surveillance programs drew a swift warning from the Kremlin on Friday that he would lose his Russian asylum if he travels abroad or discloses U.S. intelligence secrets while in Russia.

In an open letter made public Friday in Berlin by a German lawmaker, Snowden alluded to “the difficulties of this humanitarian situation,” referring to the conditions of his Russian protection from U.S. extradition requests. …

But Kucherena warned that if Snowden were to leave Russia, as he offered in the letter given to visiting German Greens Party member Hans-Christian Stroebele on Thursday, that his Aug. 1 asylum grant would be voided.

“He can’t leave Russia. As you know, he got refugee status and if he moves to a different country, he loses this status,” Kucherena told RT through a translator.