Medium to large, females mostly smaller then males.

Head. Shape: a little bit longer than broad, softly rounded, massive. Forehead broad, just slightly rounded. Cheekbones well developed, high set. Nose: medium length, broad, in profile shows a slight idetation, but without stop. Chin: slanting slightly backwards, in profile creating a curve from the upper line of the nose.

Ears: medium size, well open at the base, tips are rounded with well developed hairs on the inside and tufts. Placement: with good width between, tilting slightly forward. Eyes: large, slightly oval shaped. A bit oblique, set widely apart, uniform, any colour is permitted, but preference is given to green.

Body: well boned and muscled, powerful neck, broad chest, body in proportion to create a rectangular appearance. Legs: medium high, to form a rectangle with the body, strong. Paws: large, round, well tufted between toes. Tail: long, thick, rounded tip. Covered on all sides by dense heir with no hairs trailing down.

Coat: semi-long, well developed, very dense, undercoat not lying flat, overcoat water repellent, slightly hard to touch. Summer coat is distinctly shorter than the winter coat. The winter coat shows a well developed shirtfront, full frill and knickerbockers. All colours are acceptable except pointed patterns and the verieties chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, fawn. Any amount of white is permitted.

Novice class only accepted for cats born in Central Europe (previous USSR territories). Any crossing with other breeds prohibited.

Faults: too small or too finely built; head is long and narrow, straight profile too round head (persian type); ears are too large or too high set; round eyes; legs are too long or too thin; too short tail; too fine or silky lying coat, flat lack of coat (except in summer).