He was the Senior Director of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia from 1993 to 2002.

Following the resignation of Major General Nikolay Mikhaylov in 1993, Afanasyev was immediately appointed as the chief director of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia, and the conductor of the combined massed bands of the Moscow Garrison.

He served in this position until 2003, when he was replaced by Colonel Valery Khalilov.

He then taught master classes at the Moscow Conservatory and had also served as dean of the orchestral faculty of the Moscow State Art and Cultural University.

He was buried in the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery on 5 February.