Procedure for retracting published articles

The journal adheres to international standards of publication ethics, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, in matters related to the correction and retraction of already published articles. The aim of this procedure is to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record and uphold academic honesty.

Retraction is applied in cases where, after publication, significant issues are identified that affect the reliability or integrity of the research. Such cases include, but are not limited to, plagiarism or self-plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, unethical use of materials, serious methodological errors, or other violations that call into question the validity or interpretation of the research findings.

A retraction may be initiated by the authors, the editorial board, peer reviewers, the institution where the research was conducted, or other interested parties. Upon receiving relevant information, the editorial board conducts a thorough review of the case, which may include requesting explanations from the authors, consulting reviewers, or involving independent experts. All procedures are carried out in a confidential and impartial manner.

If sufficient grounds for retraction are confirmed, the editorial board makes a formal decision and publishes an official retraction notice. This notice includes the bibliographic details of the article and the reason for retraction. The original article remains accessible in the journal’s archive but is clearly marked as retracted to ensure transparency and proper scholarly record-keeping.

In cases where the issues are not fundamental, the journal may consider alternative measures such as publishing a correction or an erratum instead of full retraction. All decisions are made with consideration of their impact on the academic community and in accordance with principles of research integrity.