Procedure for Handling Complaints on Violations of Academic Integrity and Publication Ethics

The procedure for handling complaints regarding violations of academic integrity and publication ethics is carried out in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine and is based on the principles of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

  1. Submission of a Complaint.
    A complaint regarding violations of academic integrity and publication ethics must be submitted in written form (by email to the journal’s editorial office). It should include a clear and well-substantiated description of the alleged violation, supporting evidence, and the contact details of the complainant.
  2. Initial Review.
    The editorial board conducts a preliminary assessment of the validity of the complaint and its relevance to the journal’s scope. If necessary, the editorial office may contact the complainant and/or the author(s) to request explanations or additional materials.
  3. Investigation.
    If the complaint is deemed justified, the editorial board initiates an internal investigation involving independent experts or editorial board members who are not connected with the review of the respective article. All parties have the right to be heard.
  4. Decision-Making.
    Based on the results of the investigation, the editorial board may make one of the following decisions:
  • Reject the complaint if no violations are found.
  • Reject the article (if the violation is identified during the review process).
  • Retract the article (in accordance with the retraction procedure).
  • Prohibit the author from further publications in the journal for a specified period.
  • Inform the author’s affiliated institution or other relevant bodies (if necessary) about the identified violations.
  1. Notification of the Parties.
    The complainant and the author(s) are informed in writing of the outcome of the complaint within the timeframes established by the editorial board. All correspondence is conducted confidentially.

In the event of a retraction, a notice stating the reasons will be published on the journal’s website.

  1. Confidentiality and Impartiality.
    All complaints are handled confidentially, objectively, and without discrimination. The editorial board ensures the absence of conflicts of interest throughout the complaint review process.