Procedure for Reviewing Complaints Regarding Violations of Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics

Submission of a Complaint

  1. A complaint shall be submitted in written form (via email or through the editorial management system).
  2. The complaint should include:

- full name of the complainant (confidentiality may be requested);

- description of the alleged violation;

- reference to the relevant publication;

- supporting evidence or justification.

  1. Anonymous complaints may be considered if they contain sufficient evidence.

Registration and Preliminary Assessment

  1. The Executive Secretary shall register the complaint within 3 working days.
  2. The Editor-in-Chief shall conduct a preliminary assessment within 7 working days in order to:

- determine whether sufficient grounds exist for further review;

- initiate plagiarism screening if necessary;

- establish an expert group or refer the matter to the Editorial Board.

Investigation

  1. An Ethics Committee (not fewer than three members) shall be established.
  2. The author(s) concerned shall be informed in writing of the allegations and shall have the right to provide explanations within 14 days.
  3. Where necessary, the following may be involved:

- independent experts;

- the institution where the research was conducted;

- relevant academic integrity bodies.

  1. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of:

- confidentiality;

- absence of conflicts of interest;

- presumption of innocence.

Decision-Making

  1. Based on the results of the investigation, the following decisions may be adopted:

- dismissal of the complaint (if no violation is found);

- request for correction (corrigendum);

- publication of an editorial expression of concern;

- retraction of the article (retraction);

- temporary prohibition of future submissions;

- notification of the author’s institution.

  1. Decisions shall be adopted by majority vote of the Committee members.
  2. Both the author(s) and the complainant shall be informed in writing of the decision.

Appeal

  1. The author has the right to submit an appeal within 14 days.
  2. The appeal shall be reviewed by a separate committee.

Timeframe

The full review process shall not exceed 60 calendar days, except in complex cases.