Publication Ethics

Ethical Standards

The Editorial Board of the Journal of Eastern European Law adheres to the standards established by the international Committee on Publication Ethics (Committee on Publication Ethics – COPE).

Principles of Editorial and Publisher Ethics

When making decisions regarding publication, the Editorial Board is guided by the reliability of the submitted data and the scientific significance of the research under consideration.

The intellectual content of manuscripts is evaluated regardless of the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, social status, or political views.

Unpublished data obtained from submitted manuscripts shall not be used for personal purposes or disclosed to third parties without the author’s written consent. Information contained in submitted manuscripts remains confidential and shall not be used for personal gain.

The Editorial Board does not publish manuscripts if there are grounds to believe that they contain plagiarism.

The Editorial Board does not ignore claims or complaints concerning reviewed manuscripts or published materials and, in the event of a dispute, takes all necessary measures to restore violated rights.

The editorial board of the Journal of Eastern European Law adheres to the standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Principles of Reviewer Ethics

A manuscript received for review shall be treated as a confidential document and must not be shared with or discussed with third parties who have not been authorized by the Editorial Board.

The reviewer shall provide an objective and well-reasoned assessment of the research findings presented in the manuscript. Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable.

Unpublished data obtained from manuscripts submitted for review shall not be used by the reviewer for personal purposes.

A reviewer who believes that they do not possess sufficient expertise to evaluate a manuscript, or who is unable to provide an objective assessment, including in cases involving a conflict of interest with the author or the author’s organization, shall inform the Editorial Board and request to be excluded from the review process for that manuscript.

Principles of Publication Ethics for Authors

The author(s) of a manuscript must present accurate and reliable results of the conducted research. The deliberate submission of false or falsified data is unacceptable.

The author must ensure that the results presented in the submitted manuscript are entirely original. Any borrowed materials or data must be properly cited with clear reference to the original author and source. Plagiarism in any form is unethical and unacceptable. The manuscript must include references to works that were significant to the conduct of the research.

Authors must not submit for publication a manuscript that is currently under consideration by another journal, nor a paper that has already been published elsewhere.

All individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the research should be listed as co-authors of the article.

If an author discovers errors or inaccuracies in a manuscript during the review process or after publication, they must promptly notify the Editorial Board.

Confirmed cases of duplicate publication, plagiarism, or falsification of research results constitute grounds for rejection of the manuscript.

Published articles found to contain plagiarism shall be withdrawn from the journal’s website following a thorough investigation and approval by the Editor-in-Chief.

The Editorial Board condemns citation manipulation practices and considers excessive self-citation unacceptable, except where such references add substantial value to the scientific content of the manuscript and have clear scholarly relevance.

Plagiarism Policy

The Editorial Board informs authors that they bear full personal responsibility for the authenticity and originality of the content of their manuscripts. To avoid improper use of borrowed materials or the research results of third parties, authors are requested to adhere to the principles of ethical academic citation.

The Editorial Board conducts internal anonymous peer review of submitted manuscripts and screens all submissions for plagiarism. Manuscripts are checked for plagiarism using StrikePlagiarism software developed by the Polish company Plagiat.pl.

If plagiarism is identified during the editorial review process, the manuscript will be returned to the author and will not proceed further in the publication process.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The Journal of Eastern European Law adheres to the ethical standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and upholds the principles of transparency, objectivity, and integrity throughout all stages of the editorial and publishing process.

A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial, or professional relationships may influence the objectivity of an author, reviewer, or editor, thereby compromising the impartiality of the scientific evaluation process or editorial decision-making.

Requirements for Authors

Authors are required to disclose any circumstances that may be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Such circumstances may include:

• sources of funding;
• participation in commercial projects related to the subject of the research;
• competing interests;
• any personal or professional relationships that could influence the presentation or interpretation of the research findings.

Information regarding potential conflicts of interest must be provided at the time of manuscript submission and updated, if necessary, after publication.

Requirements for Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any factors that may compromise their ability to provide an impartial review, including:

• personal acquaintance or professional collaboration with the author(s);
• participation in joint research projects with the author(s);
• financial or academic relationships that may influence their judgment.

If any such circumstances exist, the reviewer must decline participation in the review process.

Requirements for Editors

Editors are required to adhere to the principles of impartiality and fairness when evaluating submitted manuscripts. In the event of a conflict of interest:

• the editor must not participate in the decision-making process regarding the publication of the manuscript;
• all potential conflicts of interest must be fully disclosed.

Editorial Response

If a concealed or undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication, the Editorial Board reserves the right to:

• publish an appropriate correction, clarification, or statement;
• retract the article if necessary;
• take any other measures deemed appropriate to safeguard the integrity of the scholarly publication process.

The Journal upholds the highest standards of academic ethics and encourages all participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, and editors—to ensure maximum transparency and responsibility in disclosing potential conflicts of interest.

Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses provided through this website will be used exclusively for purposes related to publication in the Journal of Eastern European Law and will not be shared with third parties or used for any other purposes.

Data collected from registered and non-registered users are used solely for the journal’s editorial processes, including communication with authors, reviewers, and editors.

The Editorial Board is committed to not selling, disclosing, or transferring such data to third parties and will use it only for the improvement of the journal’s operations and the publication process.

Procedure for Handling Complaints Concerning Violations of Ethical Standards

The Editorial Board of the Journal of Eastern European Law is guided by the principles of academic integrity, transparency, objectivity, and impartiality in all its activities. All complaints regarding alleged violations of ethical standards in the publication process are considered in accordance with the following procedure.

1. Grounds for Submitting a Complaint

A complaint may be submitted in cases involving suspected:

• plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification of research results;
• violations of copyright;
• breaches of authorship ethics, including the inclusion of individuals who did not contribute to the research or the omission of actual contributors;
• undisclosed conflicts of interest;
• inappropriate conduct during the peer-review or editorial process;
• other violations of academic and publication ethics.

2. Submission of a Complaint

Complaints should be submitted to the Editorial Board in writing (via email) and must include:

• a clear description of the alleged violation;
• references to the relevant materials or publications;
• a reasoned justification, supported by evidence where available;
• the complainant’s contact information.

Anonymous complaints may be considered only if sufficient supporting evidence is provided.

3. Preliminary Assessment

At the initial stage, the Editorial Board reviews the complaint to:

• determine whether it falls within the scope of the journal’s ethical review procedures;
• assess the completeness and reliability of the information provided.

Where necessary, the Editorial Board may request additional information or supporting documents from the complainant.

4. Investigation

Where there are reasonable grounds to proceed:

• the Editorial Board initiates an internal investigation;
• members of the Editorial Board, independent experts, or reviewers may be involved in the assessment;
• authors and other concerned parties are given an opportunity to provide explanations or comments.

The investigation is conducted in accordance with the principles of confidentiality, objectivity, and impartiality.

5. Decision-Making

Following the investigation, the Editorial Board may decide to:

• determine that no violation has occurred;
• recommend corrective measures to address identified deficiencies;
• reject the manuscript;
• retract a published article.

6. Notification of Results

The complainant and other relevant parties will be informed of the outcome within a timeframe determined by the Editorial Board. Certain details may remain confidential in order to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of the parties involved.

7. Final Provisions

The Editorial Board reserves the right to amend this Procedure in accordance with international publishing ethics standards and recommendations issued by recognized scholarly institutions.

All participants in the editorial and publishing process are required to adhere to the principles of academic integrity and publication ethics.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

The Journal of Eastern European Law recognizes the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in scholarly activities and supports their responsible use in accordance with the principles of academic integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The journal’s editorial policy is based on the recommendations of the  Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), contemporary international approaches to the use of AI in scholarly publishing (including AI policies adopted by leading publishers), and the requirements of applicable Ukrainian legislation, particularly in the areas of personal data protection and intellectual property rights.

General Principles

The use of AI tools is permitted solely as an auxiliary instrument and must not replace the author’s own intellectual contribution.

Authors bear full responsibility for the content of submitted materials, regardless of whether AI tools were used in their preparation.

Requirements for Authors

Authors may use AI tools, including generative AI models, for:

• technical editing of text (grammar, language, and style);
• improving the structure and clarity of presentation;
• supporting data analysis.

At the same time, authors are required to:

• ensure the accuracy, reliability, and scientific validity of all results presented;
• verify all information generated or processed with the assistance of AI;
• refrain from using AI to create fabricated data, references, or research results;
• avoid using AI to simulate or substitute genuine scientific research.

Where AI has been used to a significant extent, authors must disclose such use within the manuscript (for example, in the “Methodology” or “Acknowledgements” section).

Limitations

• AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a scientific article.
• The use of AI does not exempt authors from responsibility for violations of academic integrity.
• The creation, modification, or falsification of research results through the use of AI is strictly prohibited.

Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers are discouraged from uploading manuscripts or portions thereof to AI systems that may store, retain, or reuse submitted information, as this may compromise confidentiality.

When using AI as an auxiliary tool, reviewers must:

• ensure that the content of the manuscript remains confidential;
• independently verify all conclusions and assessments;
• avoid relying exclusively on AI-generated outputs.

Role of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board reserves the right to:

• request additional information regarding the use of AI in the preparation of a manuscript;
• reject manuscripts where the principles of academic integrity have been violated;
• take appropriate measures in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in cases of unethical or improper use of AI.

Compliance with Legislation

The use of AI in scholarly publications must comply with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation, including legislation relating to:

• personal data protection;
• copyright and intellectual property rights;
• prevention of unethical and deceptive practices in scientific research.

Responsibility

Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their publications regardless of the use of AI tools, including responsibility for the accuracy of facts, correctness of references, and compliance with ethical standards.