Editorial ethics

The editorial board of the journal Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures] is commited to maintaining the high level of scientific reputation and quality of scientific publications.

This publication ethics and publication malpractice statement is based on the Code of Conduct and Best-Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors (Committee on Publication Ethics). We also take into account the best practice of international journals and publishing houses.

Out publication policy is based on adherance to the following ethics common for the international research community and is aimed at preventing any violations of these rules.

Main Principles

The Editorial Board of the journal Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures] in implementing its activities relies on the Law “On Mass Media” of the Russian Federation of 27 December 1991 № 2124-1, the Charter of A.N. Kosygin Russian State University, the Charter of the Editorial Board of the journal Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures], the aforementioned publishing ethics of the journal Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures]accepted in accordance with recommendations of the Committee of Publication Ethics, COPE, and approved by the decision of the Editorial Board.

A.N. Kosygin Russian State University as a Founder and publisher of the journal Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures] assumes obligations to control all stages of the editorial and publishing process, is responsible for the publication of original works and promotes the adherence to ethical standards on behalf of the editors, the Editorial Board, the reviewers, and the authors.

Ethical Standards for the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board of Vestnik Slavianskikh Kul'tur [Bulletin of Slavic Cultures] commits to the following internationally accepted ethical principles:

• • The Editorial Board makes a decision which of the submitted essays should be published based on the results of examination of the essay’s compliance with the journal’s requirements, the results of the peer review, and the discussion at the Editorial Board’s meeting.

• • When making the decision to publish the manuscript, the Editorial Board is guided by the publishing ethics of the journal and shall not accept any essay with signs of libel, slander, plagiarism, and/or copyright violation. The final decision about the essay’s acceptance or rejection shall be made by the journal’s Editor-in-chief.

• • The Editorial Board evaluates the submitted manuscripts regardless of sex, nationality, country of origin, citizenship, occupation, place of work, and place of residence of the author as well as of his or her political, philosophical, religious or other views.

• • The Editorial Board complying with the double “blind” peer review and confidentiality, shall not disclose any information about the submitted manuscript.

• • The Editorial Board ensures that the rejected materials shall not be used in another study by the members of the Editorial Board without the author’s written agreement.

• • The Editorial Board evaluates the submitted manuscripts regardless of sex, nationality, country of origin, citizenship, occupation, place of work, and place of residence of the author as well as of his or her political, philosophical, religious or other views.

• • The Editorial Board shall consider claims of unethical behavior of the authors of submitted manuscripts or already published articles and take reasonable steps in respect of such claims. If the arguments of the claims are confirmed, the Editorial Board has the right to reject the submitted manuscript and to cease further cooperation with the author. In cases of reasonable complaints concerning the already published articles, the Editorial Board shall publish an appropriate rebuttal and take other necessary measures. Every reported act of unethical publishing behaviour must be looked into, even if it is discovered years after publication.

• • The Editor-in-chief coordinates the work of the Editorial Board, makes decisions on the key issues, signs the current issue and gives permission for online publication. The Editor-in-chief fully ensures compliance with all the ethical standards outlined in this document.

• • The members of the Editorial Board and Editorial Department are required to maintain neutrality and objectivity in relation to all the members of the editorial and publishing process.

• • The Editorial Board aims to achieve high quality of publications and, if necessary, is obliged to publish corrections and explanations.

• • Members of the Editorial Board, international Editorial Board, and the Editorial Department have the right for the priority publication of one (1) article per year; these articles are reviewed and accepted for publication on a common basis.

Ethical standards for the authors of publications

 

Authors of original research reports shouls present an accurate account of performed work. Fraudelent or knowlingly inaccurate statements are unacceptable. 

Authors should ensure that the submitted work report is entirely original.  If the authors have used the work and/or words of others, this should be appropriately cited or quoted. Significant verbatim or near verbatim copying or plagiarism in any forms is inappropriate, including very close paraphrasing of the text or results from another's work and inappropriately cited or quoted sources.

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the  nature of  the reported work.

It is improper for an author to submit the manuscript to more than one journal concurrently. In general, an author should not submit for consideration  in another journal a previously published paper.

Authorship should be limited only to those who made a contribution to the conception, design, execution or interpretation of the study. The co-authors of the paper should be all those persons who have made significant research contributions to the reported work. The corresponding author should ensure that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

Manipulation of citation in any form (e.g. inappropriate or abundant citations from the work of the supervisor, boss, and colleagues) including self-citation (the works of the author of the manuscript may not constitute more than 20% in the references) is not allowed.

The author undertakes to specify the correct scientific and other sources that were used in the research and which have had a significant impact on the results of a research in the references. The information obtained from informal (private) sources should not be used when preparing an essay for publication.

Authors undertake to correct the manuscript’s defects pointed out by the Editorial Board or the Editorial Department.

Authors must meet the journal’s requirements when submitting the essay.

All the sources of financial support (scholarships, state programs, projects, etc.) should be disclosed and indicated in the essay in obligatory order.

When an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her paper under review or after publishing, it is the author's obligation to promptly notify the journal editor or publisher.

The journal should reserve the right to reject papers which do not comply with those principles.

For convenience of distribution and to adhere to the journal policy authors should be required to transfer copyright to the journal (non-exclusive license agreement), when the manuscript is accepted. 

Ethical standards for reviewers

Any manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shown or discussed with others except as authorized by the editor.

Supervisor (consultant) of the manuscript’s author shall not peer review the manuscript.

Unpublished materials in a  submitted paper will not be  used by the reviewer  for their personal advantage.

Reviews should be conducted objectively. Reviewers should express their views clearly with supporting arguments. Personal criticism of the  author is inappropriate.

A reviewer who feels inadequately qualified to judge the research reported in a manuscript, or have conflicts of interest with the author or the institution   should return the manuscript  promptly to the editor.

 The review is strictly confidential. The name of the reviewer, his or her place of work and job title shall not be disclosed.