General Principles
Starobulgarska Literatura is a peer-reviewed and indexed scholarly journal in the fields of Palaeoslavic studies, medieval studies, and related disciplines. It adheres to high standards of academic ethics and editorial independence.
This Code of Ethics sets out the core principles of publication ethics that ensure academic integrity, transparency, and trust in the publication process for all participants – editors, authors, reviewers, and the publisher.
The Code defines the rules governing the submission and publication of manuscripts in Starobulgarska Literatura and regulates the relationships between authors, reviewers, and the editorial board. These rules aim to ensure the legitimacy of publications, the quality of the journal, and serve the interests of readers, the scholarly community, the development of the humanities, and the dissemination of knowledge.
The Code of Ethics is based on internationally recognized standards and principles of academic conduct and reflects the self-regulation of the scholarly community as a complement to legal frameworks. The journal adheres to the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors of the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics). It guarantees transparency, objectivity, and respect for copyright and intellectual labor.
Originality and Plagiarism
Scholarly publications are the final stage of research and the primary means of disseminating scholarly results.
Starobulgarska Literatura publishes only original research that has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere.
In keeping with the principle of the free exchange of scholarly knowledge, the journal provides immediate open online access to all published content simultaneously with the release of the printed edition. All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the journal the right of first publication. The content may be freely used, distributed, and cited, provided that the author and the journal are properly acknowledged.
Plagiarism, unacknowledged borrowing, and improper use of others’ texts, translations, or ideas are strictly prohibited. The journal supports the three fundamental forms of scholarly acknowledgment: proper citation, comprehensive bibliographic referencing, and appropriate acknowledgments. The journal may use specialized software to check originality.
Limited and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) is permitted only for linguistic and technical assistance. The generation of scholarly content, interpretations, or conclusions without substantial author contribution, as well as fabrication of data or replacement of authorial responsibility, is not allowed.
All scholarly publications are predicated on research and present the theoretical and practical results of that research by making them public. We uphold three basic forms of academic acknowledgment: an exhaustive list of cited literature, citing and quoting according to established rules, and expressing gratitude to colleagues for their advice or help. All papers submitted to “Medieval Bulgarian Literature” should not have been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Plagiarism in any form is not acceptable.
Responsibilities of Editors
The editorial board makes publication decisions solely on the basis of scholarly merit –originality, argumentation, methodological soundness, and contribution to the field.
In addition to its members, the editorial board engages independent experts, including international specialists, in the review process. The Editor-in-Chief ensures a fair and competent peer-review process. Editors maintain confidentiality, preserve the anonymity of authors and reviewers, and treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Unpublished materials are not shared with third parties.
The editorial board is responsible for the quality of published content and decides on acceptance or rejection based on scholarly value, clarity, methodological rigor, and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editors do not participate in the evaluation of manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.
They oversee the editing process, ensure accuracy, and coordinate all changes with the authors. Manuscripts may be returned for revision.
In cases of misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, falsified data, duplicate publication), the journal rejects the submission and may notify relevant institutions.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy and originality of their work. Submissions must represent original contributions, not previously published or under consideration elsewhere.
Authors must properly cite all sources; present research clearly and accurately; describe methods in sufficient detail; acknowledge prior research. Fabrication, falsification, or omission of data is unacceptable. Any use of AI must be declared in a footnote.
Authors must correctly cite manuscripts and primary sources, including archives, signatures, and collections, and follow best practices in publishing texts from medieval manuscripts.
All conflicts of interest must be disclosed. All sources of funding (projects, institutions, grants) must be clearly acknowledged, including full project titles, funding bodies, and contract numbers where applicable.
Responsibilities of Reviewers
All submissions undergo anonymous peer review in accordance with the journal’s academic standards. Reviewers assist the editorial board in publication decisions and may help improve manuscripts.
Reviewers must decline if lacking expertise or availability; provide objective, clear, and well-argued evaluations; maintain confidentiality.
Dissemination of Publications
Accepted materials are published in the annual issue before the end of the calendar year, as well as online on the journal’s website and in the Central and Eastern European Online Library.
Authors do not receive remuneration. Paid publications are not accepted.
Submission, review, editing, and publication timelines are specified in the Guidelines for Authors and Guidelines for Reviewers.
Conclusion
This Code of Ethics is binding for all participants in the publication process of Starobulgarska Literatura. Its observance ensures high scholarly quality, international visibility, and trust in research outcomes.