Procedure for Handling Complaints

The editorial board of the journal adheres to the principles of academic integrity, transparency, and the COPE guidelines when considering any complaints related to publication ethics or editorial decisions.

Complaints may concern violations such as plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data falsification, copyright infringement, conflicts of interest, improper peer review practices, or other ethical issues in the publication process.

A complaint should be submitted in writing to the official editorial email address and include a clear description of the issue, information about the relevant publication (if applicable), and, where possible, supporting evidence. Anonymous complaints may be considered only if sufficient evidence is provided.

Upon receipt of a complaint, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized member of the editorial board conducts a preliminary review to determine whether the issue falls within the journal’s scope. If necessary, additional information may be requested from the complainant or other involved parties.

If the complaint is found to be justified, an internal investigation is initiated with the involvement of responsible editors and, when necessary, external experts. All procedures are conducted confidentially and impartially.

Based on the outcome of the review, a decision may be made to dismiss the complaint, request corrections, publish a correction or retraction, or, in serious cases, notify the relevant institutions associated with the authors. The complainant is informed of the decision within a reasonable timeframe, usually up to 30 working days, depending on the complexity of the case.