Russian Protest Leader In Court To Face Assault Charge

Activist Sergei Udaltsov is detained by police during an opposition rally near Patriarch's Ponds in Moscow on May 9.

Ulyanovsk, Russia -- The leader of Russia's opposition Left Front, Sergei Udaltsov, has arrived at a court in the city of Ulyanovsk to face charges that he assaulted a female journalist.

The journalist, Anna Pozdnyakova, claims Udaltsov hit her during an interview at anti-NATO rally in Ulyanovsk on April 21.

Udaltsov has denied he attacked Pozdnyakova, who is an activist in the pro-Kremlin Young Guard movement.

A video appeared on YouTube allegedly showing Udaltsov hitting Pozdnyakova.

Udaltsov's wife reportedly placed a video clip on his twitter page that shows there was no assault.

Udaltsov was just released from detention after serving a brief jail term for resisting arrest at a demonstration in early May.

With additional reporting by Interfax