Born October 6, 1963, the city of Gomel. He graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of the Gomel State University (1985),postgraduate studies  (1988) and Doctorate of the Institute of Literature of the Yanka Kupala National Academy of Sciences (1998), Associate Professor of The Russian and world Literature Chair (2001). The winner of the annual award for the best publication in literary journals "Flame" (1988), "Maladosts" (1991), "Neman" (1994). Laureate Skorininskih scientific readings for a series of "artistic consciousness of the Chernobyl era and experience of national literature" (2002).
Author of over 70 scientific and methodical work.
In 2000 directed the scientific theme "Chernobyl attitude in modern Belarusian literature," from 2005 directed the scientific themes "Literature and Folklore in terms of historical and cultural borderland: tradition, status and prospects" (06.02; cathedral) and "Literature in the era of catastrophes" in the project SPFRs "Literature and the spiritual and historical experience of the Belarusian people and Slavic traditions" (06-44, 2006 - 2010.), which was first discovered in the Department of Russian and world literature on the personal initiative of I. N. Afanasyev. Since 2011 he leads the department's 10.11 GB theme "Literature and Folklore in the circumstances of the historic choice: the ideological, aesthetic, and moral aspects."

RESEARCH AREAS

Art Bykov and achieve "military" prose universal (anti-war) issues in the literature of the twentieth century, the Chernobyl disaster as a fact of artistic consciousness of modern literature, the fate of the world literature in the era of catastrophes, the problem of identity in contemporary literature.

As head of the Department I. Afanasyev seeks to actively implement the scientific results in the learning process, engaging educational activities known cultural figures and eminent scientists abroad. From 2005 to 2010, at the invitation of the Department of the students were: the chief editor of the "New World" AV Wasilewski, professor at the Moscow State MM University Doves, writer, historian, essayist, IN Shumeyko (Moscow). Lectures for students of the Faculty of Philology read: PhD, Senior Fellow, Institute of World Literature Sciences SA Nebolsin (2007), literary critic, culture, LA Anninsky (2008), awarded the 2010 Award of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of culture, the chief editor of the Russian historical magazine "Rodina" YA Borisenok (2009).

MAIN PUBLICATIONS

1. Will plant a garden ...literary critiques. - Minsk: "Maladosts", 1991.

2. And who goes to Calvary? Anti-war idea in the works of Vasil Bykov. - Minsk: Mastatskaya Litaratura, 1993.

3. Chernobyl worldview in modern Belarusian literature. -Minsk: Belaruskaya Navuka 2001.

4. teacher of history: War and Ivan Gorunova school. - Mozyr: ID "White Wind", 2009, 2010 (second revised edition).

Passion: hockey, bike.