Complaints and Retraction Policy

How to file a complaint?

 If you have concerns regarding plagiarism, conflict of interest, authorship, or the actions of the editorial board, please email us at: kafedra_vikova@ukr.net. Briefly describe the matter and attach supporting evidence (links, documents).

Submissions handling:

  1. Confirmation: We will confirm receipt of your email within 3-5 business days.
  2. Investigation: The Editorial Board (sometimes involving independent experts) conducts an internal investigation following COPE guidelines.
  3. Decision: We objectively assess all facts and inform the complainant of the results. Our goal is not punishment, but the restoration of scientific justice.

Retraction Policy

Science is an ongoing search for truth, and occasionally, significant errors or misleading data may come to light after publication. Retracting an article is a mechanism for correcting the scientific record, which we carry out according to international standards.

Who can initiate the process?

We accept requests for review or retraction from the Editorial Board, the authors themselves, peer reviewers, or our readers.

When can an article be retracted?

  • If major unintentional errors are discovered that cast doubt on the research findings.
  • In cases of confirmed plagiarism or redundant publication.
  • If data was falsified or obtained in violation of ethical norms.

How does it work in practice?

The process consists of an initial assessment (up to 10 days), a detailed investigation (4–8 weeks), and a final decision based on COPE recommendations.

Transparency and Public Access

We do not remove an article entirely, as it has already become a part of the scientific record. Instead:

  •  The original text of the article remains available to the public.
  • A distinct "RETRACTED" watermark is placed on the article's page and the PDF file itself.
  • We publish a separate statement explaining the reasons for the retraction to provide readers with full context.
  • We always provide the author with an opportunity to state their position before a final decision is reached.

Alternative Measures

In cases where a full retraction is not deemed necessary, the following measures may be applied:

  • Correction (Corrigendum): If a small part of an otherwise reliable publication proves to be misleading.
  • Expression of Concern: If there is inconclusive evidence of research or publication misconduct by the authors.