Retraction procedure

  1. General Provisions

Retraction is the formal withdrawal of a published scholarly article in cases where significant violations or deficiencies are identified that undermine the reliability of its findings.

The retraction procedure is carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The purpose of retraction is to:

  • correct the scholarly record;
  • inform readers about unreliable results;
  • ensure academic integrity.

The key principle of article retraction is that it serves as a mechanism to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record and protect the quality of scientific content, rather than as a form of punishment for authors.

 

  1. Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted in cases of:

  • plagiarism or improper borrowing;
  • fabrication or falsification of data;
  • significant errors affecting conclusions;
  • duplicate publication;
  • authorship violations;
  • undisclosed conflicts of interest;
  • breaches of ethical standards;
  • unethical use of artificial intelligence technologies.

 

  1. Initiation of Retraction

Retraction may be initiated by:

  • the author(s);
  • the Editorial Office;
  • reviewers or readers.

A request must be submitted electronically to the Editorial Office, including justification and, where possible, supporting evidence.

Prior to publication, authors may withdraw a manuscript by submitting a written request (withdrawal).

 

  1. Review and Investigation
  • preliminary assessment — within up to 5 working days;
  • where necessary, a committee is established or independent experts are involved;
  • authors are given the right to provide explanations.

The review period is up to 14 calendar days.

 

  1. Decision-Making

Based on the results of the review, the Editorial Office may decide to:

  • reject the request;
  • publish a correction;
  • retract the article.

 

  1. Retraction Procedure

In the event of retraction:

  • the article is not removed but remains available in open access;
  • the title is amended to include: “Retracted: [Article Title]”;
  • the electronic version is marked with a “Retracted” watermark;
  • corresponding changes are made to the article metadata.

A separate Retraction Notice is published, containing:

  • bibliographic details of the article;
  • reasons for retraction;
  • date of the decision;
  • a link to the original publication.

 

  1. Notification

The Editorial Office ensures:

  • notification of the authors;
  • notification of scientometric databases and DOI registration agencies;
  • updating of information on the journal’s website.

 

  1. Appeals

Authors have the right to submit an appeal within 7–14 days.

The decision following the appeal is final.

 

  1. Consequences of Violations

In cases of retraction due to ethical violations, the Editorial Office may:

  • restrict future submissions from the authors;
  • notify the author’s institution, where appropriate.

 

  1. Principles of the Procedure

All actions related to retraction are carried out in accordance with the principles of:

  • objectivity;
  • confidentiality;
  • transparency;
  • international standards of publication ethics.