Editorial Policy and Publication Guidelines of CCBS

1. Mission and Editorial Independence

CCBS is an independent analytical platform providing expert assessment of political, economic, and strategic developments in the Black Sea–Caspian region and the Caucasus.

The editorial team operates based on the principles of:

• institutional independence;
• absence of political bias;
• non-interference of external actors in editorial content.

No material is published under pressure from governmental, corporate, or other interested parties.

2. Editorial Standards

All CCBS materials must comply with the following standards:

• Accuracy and Verifiability. All facts must be verified. The use of inaccurate or unconfirmed information is unacceptable.
• Objectivity and Balance. Publications should reflect multiple perspectives, especially on controversial issues.
• Analytical Depth. Materials must provide reasoned analysis rather than mere description of events.
• Source Transparency. Sources must be clearly identified, except where confidentiality protection is required.

3. Thematic Priorities

The platform publishes materials in the following areas:

• international relations and geopolitics;
• energy and infrastructure;
• transport corridors and logistics;
• regional security;
• economic development;
• integration processes.

Submissions outside the scope of these themes are not considered for publication.

4. Requirements for Authors and Submissions

Submissions must:

• be original and previously unpublished;
• demonstrate expert-level analysis;
• present clear structure and argumentation;
• include proper references to sources.

Recommended length:

• 5,000–12,000 characters.

The editorial team reserves the right to:

• edit texts without altering their meaning;
• shorten submissions;
• reject materials without providing justification.

5. Independence of Opinions

The views expressed in publications belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of CCBS.

The platform serves as a space for professional discussion and does not promote specific political positions.

6. Conflict of Interest

Authors are required to:

• disclose any potential conflicts of interest;
• indicate affiliations with organizations relevant to the subject matter.

Submissions with undisclosed conflicts of interest may be rejected or removed.

7. Ethical Standards

The publication of materials containing the following is prohibited:

• hate speech;
• discrimination;
• incitement to violence;
• knowingly false information.

CCBS adheres to international standards of professional ethics in journalism and analysis.

8. Use of Sources and Data

Preference is given to primary and authoritative sources. The use of anonymous sources must be justified. All data and statistics should be properly referenced.

9. Editorial Responsibility

The editorial team:

• ensures the quality and compliance of publications with established standards;
• conducts editorial and fact-checking review;
• makes the final decision on publication.

In case of errors:

• materials may be corrected;
• clarifications may be issued where necessary.

10. Copyright

Authors retain copyright to their work. Publication on CCBS implies consent to its distribution on the platform. Re-publication is permitted with proper attribution to the source.

11. Final Provisions

Use of the platform and submission of materials constitutes full acceptance of these guidelines.

The editorial policy may be updated in accordance with the platform’s development and evolving international standards.