after his dismissal, escalante spent two years in czechoslovakia. he returned and continued as an activist with the communist party of cuba, however, in 1967 was accused of being part of a faction of former popular socialist party members who were developing direct ties with eastern european governments outside of normal channels. the allegations involved officials from the soviet embassy in havana whom, raul castro claimed, were conspiring with escalante to orchestrate the overthrow of the cuban government. escalante and his confederates were charged with counter-revolutionary activities and, in february, he was convicted and sentenced to prison, though was later released. the purge of the "pro-soviet" escalante "microfaction" within the party was accompanied by the strong denouncement of the ussr by fidel castro before the latin american organization of solidarity.