The Operative Information Center-OMM has launched a unique digital project titled "The Night Time Stood Still" to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, a pivotal and heroic chapter in the history of Azerbaijan's independence.
The project, developed by the "Operative Information Center-OMM" team, utilizes modern digital journalism standards to transform historical chronicles into an interactive digital monument. Created in the innovative "scrollytelling" format, the platform allows users to move beyond passive observation, becoming active participants in the events. As users scroll through the site, they are transported back to January 1990, experiencing a minute-by-minute chronological account of the tragedy.
The narrative of "The Night Time Stood Still" begins at 19:26 on January 19, 1990—the moment the energy block of Azerbaijan Television was blown up, plunging Baku into a total information blockade. The visual design is based on a "Dark Mode" aesthetic, where red carnation petals and 3D light beams—each symbolizing the soul of a martyr—rise against a deep black background. The project incorporates rare photographs by world-renowned photojournalist Reza Deghati and archival video documents to convey the reality of the events to "Gen Z" and international audiences.
The January 20 tragedy, also known as "Black January," remains a symbol of the Azerbaijani people's struggle for freedom and territorial integrity. In 1990, Soviet military units entered Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan, resulting in the deaths of 147 civilians and wounding 744 others. This event is considered the turning point that led to the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence. The new digital project serves as a modern tribute to the 147 martyrs and the millions of Azerbaijanis whose will remained unbroken. You can access the project via the following link.
We have not forgotten, and we will not let it be forgotten!
