Ethics of Scientific Publications

General Provisions

The editorial policy of Russian Journal of Regional Studies is guided by the principles of publication ethics, in accordance with international standards. This policy applies to all parties involved in the publication process: authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher.

The Editorial Board ensures adherence to ethical standards by following the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, UK), Elsevier Publishing (Netherlands), other international editorial associations and information systems, as well as the Declaration "Ethical Principles of Scientific Publications" adopted by the Association of Scientific Editors and Publishers (ASEP, Russia).

Publisher's Responsibilities

Copyright Protection
The publisher guarantees the copyright of all participants in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, and editors. In case of violation of rights, appropriate measures are taken to restore them.

Publication Quality Control

The publisher carefully checks the materials. If violations of ethical standards are detected, the publication is withdrawn. The scientific community is informed about the reasons for the retraction through the official communication channels of the journal.

Archival Storage

The publisher maintains a system for preserving the electronic fund of the Journal. This guarantees the long-term placement of materials and permanent open access to them for the scientific community.

Transparency Policy
The publisher is committed to providing open access to information regarding the Journal's operational principles, material selection criteria, and the peer review process. Any changes to the editorial policy must be communicated to the academic community in a timely manner.

Responsibilities of Editors

Decision-Making

The Editor-in-Chief evaluates the materials and makes decisions about publication. The grounds are the scientific significance, novelty and quality of the work. No external influence or pressure is allowed on editorial decisions.

Organization of Expert Assessment

The editorial board implements a review system that ensures a comprehensive, fair and timely assessment of materials. The process is based on the objectivity and professional competence of experts.

Information Protection

The editorial staff guarantees the confidentiality of materials at all stages of publication. Special attention is paid to the anonymity of reviewers and the protection of personal data of the participants in the process.

Investigation of Violations

The editorial board conducts a thorough investigation of substantiated complaints about possible violations of ethical standards. As a result, appropriate measures are being taken.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Information Accuracy
Reviewers must provide the Editorial Board with accurate and up-to-date information concerning their professional qualifications and areas of expertise.

Integrity
Reviewers are obligated to approach the peer-review process with a high sense of responsibility, acknowledging that their evaluation quality directly contributes to scientific progress and upholds the Journal's reputation. Reviewers are expected to their duties thoroughly and attentively, giving careful consideration to every detail of the manuscript.

Objectivity

Reviewers carry out a comprehensive and impartial analysis of manuscripts, guided solely by scientific criteria and principles of professional ethics.

Promoting quality

Reviewers formulate recommendations and comments that help improve the quality of materials. Their opinion is important for editorial decisions.

Ethical responsibility

Reviewers are required to identify and prevent conflicts of interest. If circumstances may affect the objectivity of the assessment, the reviewer should refuse to participate in the process.

Information protection

The reviewers undertake to treat the received manuscript as a confidential document not subject to disclosure to third parties.

Responsibilities of Authors

Scientific Integrity

The authors are responsible for the accuracy of the materials. They guarantee the originality of the research; the correct definition of co-authorship (based on the real contribution of the participants); the uniqueness of the manuscripts.

Responsibility for plagiarism

The authors guarantee that there are no illegal borrowings. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article may be withdrawn and the authors held accountable.

Quoting

The authors are obliged to ensure that all borrowings and references to the sources used are executed flawlessly in strict accordance with the established requirements of the journal, observing the principles of scientific ethics and correct citation.

Reliability

The authors ensure the accuracy of the data, the correctness of the results, and the safety of the source materials at all stages of publication.

Correct use of AI technologies

If artificial intelligence technologies were used in the preparation of the material, the authors must indicate this. At the same time, full responsibility for the content and reliability of scientific material remains solely with the authors.

Disclosure of a Conflict of Interest

The authors inform the editorial board about potential or actual conflicts of interest that may affect the perception of the research results.

Corrections

If errors are found in a published article, the authors immediately notify the editorial board. This allows you to quickly make corrections or publish a notification.

Ethical Principles of Research

Scientific Responsibility

Researchers are required to strictly adhere to the fundamental principles of scientific integrity and ethical standards when conducting research. They should take all necessary measures to prevent possible harm that may be caused by the results of their scientific activities.

Social Responsibility

When planning and implementing research projects, scientists should conduct a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of their work on all participants in the study, society as a whole and the environment. Such an analysis makes it possible to minimize risks and maximize the benefits of the results obtained.

Ethical Approvals

For research involving humans or animals, it is mandatory to obtain the prior approval of the ethics committee. In addition, it is necessary to obtain informed consent from all participants in the study, which must contain complete and reliable information about the goals, methods, possible risks and benefits of participating in the study.

Editorial Independence

Editorial Autonomy

All editorial decisions regarding the review, acceptance, rejection and publication of articles are made exclusively by the editorial team of the journal based on scientific criteria, the quality of the submitted material and its relevance to the subject of the journal. These decisions remain independent of commercial or external interests and are solely aimed at maintaining scientific and editorial integrity.

Editorial Structures and Responsibilities

Editorial processes in the journal are managed strictly within the framework of the editorial structure, which includes the editor-in-chief, the editorial board, reviewers, and, if necessary, the ethics council. These structures work closely together to ensure the independence of editorial decisions, their scientific objectivity and compliance with high professional standards.

Protection from External Influence

Interference of commercial units, sponsors or other persons in editorial decisions is prohibited. Attempts to pressure or comment on the decisions of the editorial board are unacceptable.

Maintaining Editorial Integrity

The principle of editorial independence is mandatory for all participants in the process. Its violation may undermine the reputation of the journal and the trust of the scientific community. The Editorial Board adheres to these principles in order to maintain the authenticity of publications and the credibility of the publication.