MOSCOW, September 10 (RAPSI) - Attorney Alexander Zorin asked the Russian Investigative Committee to initiate a criminal case against President of The United States Barack Obama.

Zorin told RAPSI on Tuesday that he filed a motion with the Investigative Committee to initiate a case against Obama under the Criminal Code Article 353 "Planning and preparation for the instigation of an armed conflict." The penalty under this article includes up 20 years in prison.

The attorney believes that international law lacks the recourse to bring Obama to justice, after in 2002 the US withdrew its intent to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

"Under the guise of protecting its servicemen, the US have completely withdrawn from the Rome Statute, calling it a threat to the US national interests and sovereignty" - Zorin added.

Obama has asked the US Congress to support a limited military intervention in Syria because of the regime's alleged use of chemical weapons, which the US claims killed over a thousand civilians in one attack last month. The Senate's Foreign Relations Committee approved a motion backing a military strike last Wednesday, and a final vote is expected this week after Congress reconvened on Monday.