Complaints procedure for violations of academic integrity and publication ethics

The journal ensures a transparent and impartial review of complaints and appeals that may arise during editorial activities.

1. Submission of Complaints

The journal accepts complaints from authors, reviewers, readers, and other interested parties regarding:

• violations of academic integrity;
• non-compliance with editorial procedures;
• unethical conduct of participants in the publication process;
• possible errors or misconduct in already published materials.

A complaint must be submitted in writing to the official editorial email address and should include:

• a clear description of the issue;
• where possible, supporting materials or references.

Anonymous complaints may be considered if there are sufficient grounds for verification.

2. Review of Complaints

All complaints are reviewed confidentially, objectively, and without undue delay.

The Editor-in-Chief:

• conducts a preliminary review of the complaint;
• if necessary, involves members of the editorial board or independent experts;
• initiates an investigation in accordance with academic integrity principles and COPE guidelines.

During the review process, explanations may be requested from the parties involved.

Based on the review, the editorial board may:

• reject the complaint as unfounded;
• recommend corrections;
• initiate additional peer review;
• refer the case to relevant institutions;
• initiate article retraction procedures.

The complainant receives a reasoned response regarding the outcome of the review.

3. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

An author has the right to appeal an editorial decision regarding a manuscript, particularly in cases of:

• rejection of the article;
• requirement for substantial revision;
• disagreement with peer review results.

An appeal must be submitted in writing and should include:

• a clear justification for disagreeing with the decision;
• reasoned arguments with references to scientific data or reviewer comments.

4. Review of Appeals

Appeals are considered by the Editor-in-Chief together with members of the editorial board who were not involved in the initial decision.

If necessary, additional independent reviewers may be involved.

Based on the review, the editorial board may:

• uphold the original decision;
• revise the decision;
• send the manuscript for re-review.

The decision made following the appeal process is final.

5. Principles of Review

Complaints and appeals are reviewed based on the principles of:

• impartiality;
• confidentiality;
• reasoned decision-making;
• adherence to academic integrity standards;
• procedural transparency.

The journal guarantees that submitting a complaint or appeal will not negatively affect further interaction with authors or other participants in the publication process.