Procedure for Handling Complaints Regarding Violations of Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics
The Editorial Board adheres to the principles of academic integrity, publication ethics, and the recommendations of international organizations (COPE, WAME, ICMJE) and ensures transparent, impartial, and confidential consideration of all complaints concerning potential violations.
- Submission of a Complaint
Complaints regarding possible violations of academic integrity (plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, authorship manipulation, conflicts of interest, peer review misconduct, etc.) may be submitted by any individual to the official email address of the Editorial Office. The complaint must include a reasoned description of the alleged violation and, where possible, supporting evidence or references.
- Preliminary Assessment
The Editor-in-Chief or an authorized member of the Editorial Board conducts an initial assessment of the complaint within a specified timeframe (generally within 14 calendar days). If necessary, independent experts or members of the Editorial Board may be involved.
- Investigation
If the complaint appears substantiated, a detailed investigation is conducted in accordance with the principles of objectivity, confidentiality, and the right of all parties to provide explanations. The author(s) of the publication are given the opportunity to submit written explanations. Where appropriate, additional plagiarism checks, analysis of primary data, or consultation with external reviewers may be carried out.
- Decision-Making
Based on the results of the investigation, the Editorial Board may adopt one of the following decisions:
– reject the complaint as unfounded;
– request corrections from the author(s);
– publish a correction (corrigendum) or clarification;
– retract the article;
– inform the author’s affiliated institution or relevant authorities (in cases of serious violations).
The decision is documented and communicated to the parties involved.
- Confidentiality and Impartiality
All complaints are handled confidentially. The Editorial Board guarantees the absence of discrimination or bias toward any party. Individuals with a potential conflict of interest related to the complaint are excluded from its consideration.
- Prevention of Violations
The journal applies mandatory plagiarism screening, requires disclosure of conflicts of interest, and adheres to international peer-review standards to prevent potential violations.
The Editorial Board reserves the right to update and improve this procedure in accordance with evolving international standards and recommendations in publication ethics.
