Handling Complaints about Ethical Misconduct

The scholarly collection “SCIENTIFIC HERALD OF TCHAIKOVSKY NATIONAL MUSIC ACADEMY OF UKRAINE” ensures proper consideration of complaints regarding possible violations of publication ethics and academic integrity at all stages of the editorial process—from manuscript submission to the post-publication period.

 What is considered a complaint

A complaint is understood as a report of a possible violation, including in particular:

  • plagiarism / self-plagiarism / improper borrowing;
  • fabrication or falsification of data;
  • authorship manipulation (guest, “coercive,” or hidden authorship);
  • simultaneous submission of a manuscript to several outlets or duplicate publication;
  • an undisclosed conflict of interest;
  • unethical peer review;
  • unethical or undisclosed use of artificial intelligence tools;
  • copyright infringement;
  • discriminatory, defamatory, or offensive statements in the material.

 Who may submit a complaint

A complaint may be submitted by:

  • author(s), reviewer(s), editor(s);
  • readers, research institutions, publishers, rights holders;
  • any other person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation has occurred.

 How to submit a complaint

A complaint is submitted to the editorial office in writing (by email or via the communication channel specified on the “Contacts” page) and must include:

  • a clear description of the issue;
  • a reference to the publication or manuscript (if available);
  • factual evidence or sources (e.g., a link to the original source, matching fragments, documents, etc.);
  • the complainant’s contact details (anonymous complaints are considered, but verification may be limited).

 Stages of complaint consideration

Registration and initial review

The editorial office registers the complaint and conducts an initial assessment of its relevance (whether it concerns publication ethics and whether it contains sufficient information for verification).

Preliminary verification

Depending on the nature of the complaint, the editorial office may:

  • check for textual matches;
  • compare the material with possible original sources;
  • request explanations from the author(s), reviewer(s), or editor(s);
  • consult independent experts.

 Consideration and decision

A decision is made by the editorial office (or an authorized person/group) on the basis of the verification materials and the parties’ explanations.

 Notification of parties

The editorial office informs the complainant (if contact details are available) of the outcome and notifies the author(s) or other involved persons of the decision taken.

 Conflict of interest during complaint consideration

A person with a conflict of interest does not participate in the consideration of the complaint or in decision-making. In such cases, the consideration is transferred to another authorized editor or a member of the editorial board.

 Possible outcomes of consideration

Depending on the nature of the violation, the editorial office may:

  • dismiss the complaint as unfounded;
  • return the manuscript to the author for revision;
  • reject the manuscript and discontinue consideration;
  • suspend publication / remove the material from the issue plan until the verification is completed;
  • publish a correction / clarification;
  • publish an expression of concern;
  • retract the publication;
  • inform the author’s institution or other relevant bodies, if warranted by the nature of the violation.

 Timeframes

The editorial office strives to consider complaints without undue delay. The actual timeframe depends on the complexity of the verification, the need to obtain explanations, the involvement of experts, and the volume of materials.

 Final provisions

Submitting a complaint does not automatically confirm the existence of a violation. The editorial office ensures the confidentiality of the process to the extent necessary for fair consideration and acts in accordance with the collection’s policies on publication ethics, plagiarism, conflicts of interest, the use of AI, and peer review.