Article Retraction Procedure

Procedure for Retraction of Published Articles

1. General Provisions

1.1. The Editorial Board bears primary responsibility for monitoring research ethics and ensuring the integrity, reliability, and accuracy of published materials. The journal is obliged to respond promptly to reports of possible violations and take measures to correct the scientific record.

1.2. In matters of corrections and retractions, the Editorial Office follows the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics COPE (Retraction Guidelines) as well as the recommendations of EASE and WAME.

1.3. The main purpose of retraction is to minimize harm caused by the use of unreliable or unethical data, rather than to impose disciplinary sanctions on authors. Retraction serves as a mechanism of scientific self-regulation and protects readers from misleading conclusions.

1.4. Any actions regarding corrections or retractions are carried out publicly. Retracted materials are clearly marked so they cannot be used as a basis for further research, while remaining accessible as part of the historical scientific record.

1.5. Considering the rapid development of technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Editorial Office reserves the right to update retraction procedures in line with new ethical challenges and revised international protocols.

2. Grounds for Retraction

Retraction is initiated when findings are invalidated or when publishing ethics are seriously violated:

  • unreliable data or significant scientific errors;

  • fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate publication;

  • undisclosed use of AI (text generation, fabricated references);

  • authorship violations, manipulation of peer review, hidden conflicts of interest;

  • infringement of third-party rights (personal data, copyright).

3. Levels of Correction

  • Erratum / Corrigendum – correction of technical or unintentional errors.

  • Expression of Concern – temporary notice when serious concerns exist but investigation is ongoing.

  • Retraction – withdrawal of the article when major violations or critical errors are confirmed.

4. Retraction Procedure

  • Initiation may come from authors, the Editorial Office, or third parties with substantiated evidence.

  • Authors are notified and given up to 14 days to provide explanations and supporting data.

  • The investigation may involve independent experts, institutional academic integrity commissions, or specialized software for plagiarism/AI detection.

  • The final decision is made by the Editorial Board under the leadership of the Editor-in-Chief.

  • Authors may appeal once within 14 days, provided new substantial evidence is submitted.

5. Retraction Transparency

  • Retracted articles remain accessible but are marked with a visible watermark “RETRACTED.”

  • Titles in the archive are changed to “Retraction: [Original Title].”

  • A separate Retraction Notice is published with its own DOI, stating the reasons, initiators, and dates of the decision.

  • Updates are transmitted to international databases (CrossRef, Scopus, Web of Science) with cross-linking between the original article and the notice.

  • The journal declares the AI detection tools used for internal manuscript checks.