Retractions Associated with Kazakhstani Institutes in 2024/2025: Lessons for Medical Researchers in Kazakhstan

Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva 1 *
More Detail
1 Independent researcher, Miki-cho, Japan
* Corresponding Author
J CLIN MED KAZ, Volume 22, Issue 3, pp. 4-7. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/16405
OPEN ACCESS 127 Views 24 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, supervision; validation, visualization, roles/writing – original draft, writing – review and editing, J. A. T. S. The author has read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Data availability statement: The corresponding author can provide the data supporting the study's conclusions upon request. Due to ethical and privacy constraints, the data are not publicly accessible.

ABSTRACT

Medical researchers in Kazakhstan, empowered by a publication-based rewards system, may be tempted to engage in unethical behavior in order to achieve success. A recent (DOI: 10.1007/s10805-025-09624-0) assessment of 36 Scopus-indexed retractions from 2013–2023, peaking in 2016–2019, revealed that the most frequent cause of retractions was fake peer review, although some papers were also retracted due to engagement with paper mills. In a bid to offer some continuity to and expansion of that assessment, retractions of authors affiliated with Kazakhstani institutes were assessed using the Retraction Watch database for the 1 January 2024 to 3 April 2025 period. A total of 19 retractions were identified, nine each in Springer Nature and Wiley journals, and one in PLoS ONE, and with seven retractions having the affiliation “Al-Farabi Kazakh National University”. The most common reason (89%) was compromised or manipulated peer review, while authors in 26% of retraction notices expressed disagreement with the retractions. Finally, 73% of emails listed for the corresponding authors were not institutional emails. The take-home message of this short analysis for medical researchers in Kazakhstan is to appreciate that the risks of abuses of the publication process far outweigh any benefits that may have accrued as a result of deceptive practices.

CITATION

Teixeira da Silva JA. Retractions Associated with Kazakhstani Institutes in 2024/2025: Lessons for Medical Researchers in Kazakhstan. J CLIN MED KAZ. 2025;22(3):4-7. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/16405

REFERENCES

  • Smagulov K, Teixeira da Silva JA. Scientific productivity, as well as retractions of papers, by authors with affiliations in Kazakhstan. J Acad Ethics 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-025-09624-0
  • Movkebayeva Z, Khamitova D, Zholtayeva A, Balmagambetova V, Balabiyev K. Factors influencing the legal regulation and management of education system in Kazakhstan: A review and analysis. Problems Perspect Manage.2020; 18(4): 14–24. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.18(4).2020.02
  • Amirbekova D, Narbaev T, Kussaiyn M. The research environment in a developing economy: Reforms, patterns, and challenges in Kazakhstan. Publications. 2022; 10(4): 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications10040037
  • Yelibay M, Karabassova L, Mukhatayev Z, Yermukhambetova A. The perception and experience of young researchers in doctoral programmes in the context of recent reforms in Kazakhstan. Eur J Educ. 2022; 57(3): 484–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12513
  • Kudaibergenova R, Uzakbay S, Makanova A, Ramadinkyzy K, Kistaubayev E, Dussekeev R, Smagulov K. Managing publication change at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: A case study. Scientometrics. 2022; 127(1): 453–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-04139-y
  • Wang Y, Hong S, Wang Y, Gong X, He C, Lu Z, Zhan F. What is the difference in global research on Central Asia before and after the collapse of the USSR: A bibliometric analysis. Scientometrics. 2019; 119(2): 909–930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03069-0
  • Chankseliani M, Lovakov A, Pislyakov V. A big picture: Bibliometric study of academic publications from post-Soviet countries. Scientometrics. 2021; 126(10): 8701–8730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-04124-5
  • Hernández-Torrano D, Karabassova L, Izekenova Z, Courtney MGR. Mapping education research in post-Soviet countries: A bibliometric analysis. Int J Educ Dev. 2021; 87: 102502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102502
  • Narbaev T, Amirbekova D. Research productivity in emerging economies: Empirical evidence from Kazakhstan. Publications. 2021; 9(4): 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications9040051
  • Koçyiğit BF, Akyol A, Gulov MK, Yessirkepov M. Comparative analysis of Central Asian publication activity using SCImago Journal & Country Rank data in 1996–2021. J Kor Med Sci. 2023; 38(14): e104. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e104
  • Matveeva N, Sterligov I, Lovakov A. International scientific collaboration of post-Soviet countries: A bibliometric analysis. Scientometrics. 2022; 127(3): 1583–1607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-022-04274-0
  • Matveeva N, Batagelj V, Ferligoj A. Scientific collaboration of post-Soviet countries: The effects of different network normalizations. Scientometrics. 2023; 128(8): 4219–4242. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-023-04752-z
  • Ahmed S, Anirvan P. Top Central Asian educational institutions on Publons: Analysis of researchers and reviewers. J Kor Med Sci. 2021; 36(21): e144. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e144
  • Kurambayev B, Freedman E. Publish or perish? The steep, steep path for Central Asia journalism and mass communication faculty. J Mass Commun Educator. 2021; 76(2): 228–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077695820947259
  • Kuzhabekova A, Ruby A. Raising research productivity in a post-Soviet higher education system: A case from Central Asia. Eur Educ. 2018; 50(3): 266–282. https://doi.org/10.1080/10564934.2018.1444942
  • Marina T, Sterligov I. Prevalence of potentially predatory publishing in Scopus on the country level. Scientometrics. 2021; 126(6): 5019–5077. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-03899-x
  • Abalkina A. Publication and collaboration anomalies in academic papers originating from a paper mill: Evidence from a Russia-based paper mill. Learned Publ. 2023; 36(4): 689–702. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1574
  • Lovakov AV, Teixeira da Silva JA. Scientometric indicators in research evaluation and research misconduct: Analysis of the Russian University Excellence Initiative. Scientometrics. 2025; 130(3): 1813–1829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-025-05269-3
  • Abalkina A, Bishop DVM. Paper mills: A novel form of publishing malpractice affecting psychology. Meta-Psychology. 2023; 7: MP.2022.3422. https://doi.org/10.15626/MP.2022.3422
  • Yessirkepov M, Nurmashev B, Anartayeva M. A Scopus-based analysis of publication activity in Kazakhstan from 2010 to 2015: Positive trends, concerns, and possible solutions. J Kor Med Sci. 2015; 30(12): 1915–1919. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.12.1915
  • Ovezmyradov B. Applying quantified indicators in Central Asian science: Can metrics improve the regional research performance? Scientometrics. 2023; 128(1): 177–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-022-04544-x
  • Shakirova SM. Case study on retraction of articles by Thinking Skills and Creativity journal [Keis po retraktsii statey zhurnalom Thinking Skills and Creativity]. Sci Ed Publisher. 2023; 8(1): 38–45. https://doi.org/10.24069/SEP-23-16 (in Russian with English abstract)
  • Koçyiğit BF, Akyol A. Analysis of retracted publications from Kazakhstan. Central Asian J Med Hypotheses Ethics. 2022; 3(2): 111–118. https://doi.org/10.47316/cajmhe.2022.3.2.04
  • Koçyiğit BF, Zhaksylyk A, Akyol A, Yessirkepov M. Characteristics of retracted publications from Kazakhstan: An analysis using the Retraction Watch database. J Kor Med Sci. 2023; 38(46): e390. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e390
  • RWDB (Retraction Watch database). (2025). https://retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSearch.aspx
  • Teixeira da Silva JA. Authors disagreeing with retractions: A growing procedural concern? Persona Bioética. 2024; 27(2): e2726. https://doi.org/10.5294/pebi.2023.27.2.6
  • Teixeira da Silva JA, Vuong Q-H. Fortification of retraction notices to improve their transparency and usefulness. Learned Publ. 2022; 35(2): 292–299. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1409
  • Teixeira da Silva JA. When academic papers’ stated emails do not match authors’ affiliations: A new budding crisis in paper mill-ridden academic publishing? Epistēmēs Metron Logos. 2022; 8: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.12681/eml.31441
  • Teixeira da Silva JA. How are global university rankings adjusted for erroneous science, fraud and misconduct? Posterior reduction or adjustment in rankings in response to retractions and invalidation of scientific findings. J Inf Sci. 2025 (in press). https://doi.org/10.1177/01655515241269499
  • Zhaksylyk A, Yessirkepov M, Bekaryssova D, Seiil B. Retraction Watch database analysis of retracted medical articles from Kazakhstan (Анализ базы данных Retraction Watch по ретрагированным медицинским статьям из Казахстана) [in Russian with English abstract]. J Health Dev. 2024; 55(1): 22–28. https://doi.org/10.32921/2225-9929-2024-1-55-22-28