Samkvidro is committed to ensuring that all editorial and peer-review decisions are made fairly, objectively, independently, and transparently.

A conflict of interest exists when personal, financial, professional, institutional, or other interests could reasonably be perceived as influencing, or potentially influencing, an individual’s objectivity in the research, review, or publication process.

Authors

Authors must disclose any financial, personal, professional, institutional, or other relevant interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its publication.

Authors should disclose relevant relationships or circumstances involving, for example, funding, employment, consultancy, institutional affiliations, personal relationships, or other interests that may affect the impartiality of the research or its publication.

Where no relevant conflict of interest exists, authors should provide an appropriate declaration stating this.

Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest before accepting a manuscript for review.

A reviewer should decline to review a manuscript where, for example, they:

• have a close personal or professional relationship with an author;
• have a significant professional or institutional connection with the author;
• have a direct competitive, financial, or other interest that could affect their objectivity; or
• believe that they cannot provide an impartial and independent assessment.

Reviewers must not use unpublished information obtained during the peer-review process for personal, professional, or competitive advantage.

Editors

Editors must disclose and appropriately manage any conflict of interest that could affect their editorial judgment.

An editor should not participate in the editorial assessment or final decision concerning a manuscript where a significant conflict of interest exists. In such cases, responsibility for the manuscript may be assigned to another qualified editor.

Editorial decisions must not be influenced by commercial interests, institutional relationships, personal relationships, or other considerations unrelated to the scholarly merits of the manuscript.

Management of Conflicts

A conflict of interest does not necessarily prevent publication. However, all relevant conflicts must be disclosed, assessed, and appropriately managed to safeguard the integrity and impartiality of the editorial and peer-review process.

The Editor-in-Chief may take appropriate measures to manage a disclosed conflict, including assigning an alternative editor or reviewer, requesting additional independent review, or taking other steps considered necessary.

If an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified before or after publication, Samkvidro reserves the right to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. Such action may include requesting a disclosure or correction, reconsidering an editorial decision, notifying relevant institutions where appropriate, or issuing a correction or retraction when necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Samkvidro is committed to handling conflicts of interest with fairness, confidentiality, consistency, and transparency.