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

The editorial board of the scientific journal ensures compliance with the principles of academic integrity and publication ethics in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Complaints and reports are reviewed on the basis of objectivity, impartiality, confidentiality, and transparency. The procedure is based on the international standards of COPE, EASE, and Elsevier Publishing Ethics, as well as the current legislation of Ukraine and practices for ensuring the quality of scientific publications.
1. Filing a Complaint (Report)
A complaint or report regarding possible violations of academic integrity or publication ethics may be filed by any individual or legal entity.
The complaint must be submitted in writing (electronically) and must include:
the complainant’s last name, first name, and contact information (except for anonymous complaints, which are considered only if sufficient evidence is provided);
a clear description of the nature of the violation;
a reference to the manuscript or published article;
if available, documentary evidence.
Complaints are accepted at the journal’s official email address.
2. Registration and Initial Review
A received complaint is subject to mandatory registration. The executive secretary or an authorized representative of the editorial board conducts an initial analysis regarding:
whether the issue falls within the journal’s scope;
the completeness of the information provided;
the presence of signs of a violation.
If the data is insufficient, the complainant may be sent a request for clarification of the information.
3. Review and Fact-Checking
If the complaint is accepted for review:
the materials are forwarded to the editorial board for review;
if necessary, a temporary commission is formed or independent experts are consulted;
the author(s) are informed of the substance of the complaint and have the right to provide written explanations within a specified timeframe.
The review is conducted in accordance with the principles of equality of the parties, confidentiality, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest.
4. Decision-making
Based on the results of the review, the editorial board makes one of the following decisions:
to dismiss the complaint as unfounded and terminate the review;
to recommend that the authors make corrections or clarifications;
to reject the manuscript (if under review prior to publication);
to retract the published article;
to publish a notice of the violation (corrigendum, erratum, retraction);
to notify the administration of the institution where the author works;
to apply other measures in accordance with the nature of the violation.
5. Notification of Interested Parties
The following parties are notified of the results of the review within the established timeframe:
the complainant;
the author(s);
if necessary, the relevant higher education institutions or scientific institutions.
The editorial board’s decision is recorded in a protocol and kept on file at the editorial office.
6. Review Timelines
The review period for a complaint generally does not exceed 30 calendar days from the date of its registration. In complex cases, the period may be extended with a justification of the reasons.
7. Principles of Ensuring Academic Integrity
The editorial office guarantees:
compliance with standards of academic integrity;
prevention of plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification of results;
independence in decision-making;
transparency of editorial policy;
compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine regarding scientific professional publications.