Retraction procedure

1. General terms

Retraction (recall) of an article is an official procedure for recognising that published material contains significant violations of academic integrity or significant errors that affect the reliability of the research results.

The editorial board of the journal carries out the retraction procedure in accordance with the international recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics and generally accepted standards of scientific publication practice.

The purpose of retraction is to maintain the integrity of the scientific community, inform readers about the unreliability of results, and preserve the transparency of editorial policy.

2. Reasons for retraction

The article may be recalled in the following cases:

  • detection of falsification, fabrication or significant distortion of data;
  • detection of plagiarism, self-plagiarism or unauthorised textual borrowings;
  • duplication of publication in another edition without proper notification;
  • significant methodological errors that negate the reliability of conclusions;
  • copyright infringement;
  • undeclared conflict of interest that could have influenced the results of the study;
  • establishing improper authorship (fictitious or hidden authorship);
  • violation of research ethics;
  • concealment of the use of artificial intelligence contrary to the journal's policy.

3. Initiating the procedure

The following parties may initiate the consideration of a retraction:

  • the editor or editorial board;
  • reviewers;
  • the author(s) of the article;
  • readers or representatives of the scientific community;
  • institutions where the research was conducted.

All complaints regarding possible violations are subject to mandatory consideration.

4. Review procedure

  1. Pre-check
    The editorial team conducts an initial analysis of the information received and collects the necessary materials.
  1. Request for explanations
    The author(s) shall be sent an official notification requesting them to provide reasoned explanations within a specified period.
  1. Expert review
    If necessary, the editorial board engages independent experts or contacts the relevant institution to confirm the facts.
  1. Decision-making
    The final decision on retraction is made by the editorial board based on the collected materials.
  1. Publication of information
    If the grounds for retraction are confirmed, an official retraction notice shall be published.

5. Retraction notification form

Notice of retraction:

  • published in the next edition of the journal and/or on the official website;
  • contains complete bibliographic information about the retracted article;
  • clearly states the reasons for retraction;
  • does not contain discrediting statements;
  • adheres to the principles of legal correctness.

The electronic version of the article is marked as ‘Retracted’ while retaining access to the text (except in cases of legal restrictions) to ensure the transparency of the scientific archive.

6. Correction and partial retraction

In cases where errors do not critically affect the overall results of the study, the editorial board may:

  • publish a correction (Erratum or Corrigendum);
  • post an editorial note (Expression of Concern).

Complete retraction is only applied when the flaws render the results unreliable.

7. Voluntary retraction

Authors may initiate the retraction of an article if they independently discover significant errors. In such cases, the editorial board considers the request in accordance with standard procedures and publishes a corresponding notice indicating that the retraction was initiated by the authors.

8. Archive preservation and indexing

Information about retraction is transmitted to scientometric databases and indexing systems in which the journal is represented. All materials related to the review procedure are kept in the publication's archive.

9. Principles of transparency and impartiality

The editorial board guarantees:

  • objectivity in the consideration of each case;
  • the right of the author(s) to provide explanations;
  • confidentiality during the review stage;
  • the absence of discrimination or prejudiced attitudes.