1. The main purpose of retraction is to correct the information published in the Journal and ensure its integrity rather than to punish the authors.

2. Retraction (removing an article from the Journal after publication) is a mechanism for correcting the published scientific information and alerting readers to publications that contain such serious flaws or erroneous data (as a result of honest error or research misconduct) that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon, as well as to cases of redundant publications (when authors present the same data in several publications), plagiarism and failing to disclose a major competing interest that would have unduly influenced interpretation of data or recommendations on its use.

3. An article can be retracted for the following reasons:

• plagiarism (if only a small part of an article, e.g. several sentences, is plagiarized, this may be rectified by citing the source correctly, so the editors discuss the situation and decide if correction would be a better option for authors and readers compared to retraction of the article);
• redundant publication;
• data fabrication / falsification;
• major errors (e.g. misinterpretation of research findings) compromising scientific validity of the work;
• an incorrect author/contributor list (not including someone who deserves to be there and/or including persons who do not meet the criteria for authorship);
• failure to disclose a major conflict of interest (and other violations of publication ethics);
• republishing an article without the author's consent.

4. The editors retract an article based on their own expertise or on information received from readers, organizations, etc., as well as on an official request from the author(s) having provided justification for their decision.

5. If the editors decide to retract an article based on their own expertise or on information received from readers, organizations, etc., they inform the author (the leading author in case of collective authorship) about retraction, mentioning the reasons and basis for it.

6. Having decided to retract an article, the editors specify the reason for retraction (in case of plagiarism the original sources should be properly cited) and the date of retraction. Both the article and its abstract remain unchanged on the website of the Journal, but the word RETRACTED along with the retraction date accompany the electronic version of the text, as well as its title in the table of contents. The reason for retraction is specified in the commentary to the article (in case of plagiarism the original sources are cited).

7. WIthin 30 days after the decision on retraction is made, information about retracted articles is passed to CyberLeninka (for further inclusion in the respective database) and to the Scientific Electronic Library (elibrary.ru). Both information about the article and its full text remain on elibrary.ru but get supplemented with retraction notices. Retracted articles and references from them are excluded from the Russian Science Index and can no longer influence RSI indicators.