Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor turned leaker and whistleblower, won't be able to travel to Germany to testify about NSA surveillance, according to a report from The Guardian.

Snowden asked for asylum in Germany last summer, but his application was rejected because he didn't file it from German soil. Theoretically, a trip to Germany could have been a second chance to file an application. But plans for the trip broke down, with sharp disagreement among German political parties about the propriety of allowing Snowden into the country.

Unnamed government officials wrote a letter to the parliamentary committee that invited Snowden, saying that the invitation would "run counter to the political interests of the Federal Republic" and "put a grave and permanent strain" on relations between the US and Germany. The letter was obtained and published by Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany's largest newspaper.

The German Left and Green parties had insisted that Snowden's personal appearance and testimony was key, "not least because of concerns that Russia would otherwise influence his testimony," wrote The Guardian. But the dominant Christian Democratic Union and Social Democratic parties said that Snowden didn't need to appear in person; his written answers would suffice.

Green Party leader Simone Peter said her party will continue to fight over the issue. "Merkel is displaying cowardice towards our ally America," said Peter. "We owe the Americans nothing in this respect. The government must at least make a serious effort to safely bring Snowden to Germany and let him give evidence here."

Snowden has been living in Russia since he gave top-secret documents to journalists last year. His one-year visa will run out this summer, but his lawyer Jesselyn Radack said she expects the visa to be renewed.