Handling complaints

The Publisher, in its activities, follows the fundamental principles of observing academic integrity and all ethical standards in relation to all participants in the publishing process. Therefore, each complaint submitted to the Publisher is subject to consideration and analysis, which results in a response to the complaint, including if it is submitted anonymously. The publisher pays special attention to the existence of an evidence base in relation to the essence of the complaint. Therefore, if a complaint appears to be defamatory or involves a potential conflict of interest, the Publisher requires substantial evidence that can establish the validity of the complaint on its merits and dispel any suspicion of defamation or a conflict of interest. Otherwise, the fact of the complaint is recorded, but proceedings on it are not carried out until such arguments are received.

Any statements made on social media, comments, etc. will be considered by the publisher if they are not defamatory and have a direct appeal to publisher. The publisher periodically monitors such discussions, but this does not guarantee the identification of absolutely all comments, posts, etc. Such statements will not be considered official. However, if reasoned and / or scientifically grounded statements are identified, they can be considered even without an official appeal to the publisher.

When choosing a response form, the editorial board follows the COPE recommendations. If a complaint concerns a published article and the complaint is substantiated on its merits, it will be forwarded to the editorial office of the respective journal, and the journal’s retraction policy will be applied.