Retraction Policy for Published Articles

The Herald of ONMU adheres to the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record.

The Editorial Board is responsible for correcting the scientific record in cases of identified violations or significant errors through:

• retraction of articles;
• publication of corrections (erratum / corrigendum);
• issuance of an expression of concern where appropriate.

Retraction is intended to maintain the accuracy of the scholarly record and is not a punitive measure against authors.

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted in cases of:

• confirmed plagiarism or self-plagiarism;
• fabrication or falsification of data;
• serious errors rendering the results unreliable;
• redundant (duplicate) publication;
• copyright infringement;
• undisclosed conflicts of interest affecting the interpretation of results;
• violations of research or publication ethics.

Initiation of the Procedure

The retraction process may be initiated by:

• the Editorial Board;
• the authors;
• reviewers;
• readers or other stakeholders.

All allegations are considered regardless of their source.

Investigation Procedure

The Editorial Board follows COPE recommendations and ensures a fair and transparent process:

1. Initial assessment of the allegation;
2. Collection and verification of evidence;
3. Request for explanations from the authors;
4. Consultation with independent experts or institutions, if necessary;
5. Decision-making by the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board may cooperate with authors’ affiliated institutions during the investigation.

Decision-Making

Based on the outcome of the investigation, the following actions may be taken:

• retraction of the article;
• publication of a correction;
• issuance of an expression of concern;
• no action, if no violation is confirmed.

Decisions are made based on evidence and in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Implementation of Retraction

In the event of retraction:

• the article is not removed from the journal’s website in order to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record;
• it is clearly marked as “Retracted”;
• a separate Retraction Notice is published, which:
• is openly accessible;
• states the reasons for retraction;
• is linked to the original article;
• all electronic versions of the article are appropriately labeled.

Transparency and Integrity

The Editorial Board ensures:

• objectivity and impartiality;
• confidentiality during the investigation process;
• transparency after a decision has been made.