Fake reports about the death of Syria's former president, Bashar al-Assad, in a plane crash were orchestrated by intelligence services of countries interested in the chaos in Syria.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

"This is simply a classic example of forgery, containing all the necessary components. Why was it spread? The relevant services of countries interested in the chaos in Syria were behind this," she said.

It is noted that the version claiming that Bashar al-Assad died in a plane crash emerged after the Russian Il-76 transport aircraft carrying Assad disappeared from radar near the Syrian border. The next day, it was revealed that the plane carrying Assad had turned off its transponder to avoid detection by radar and had become "invisible."