Mashkevich, who held a doctorate in linguistics, emigrated from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan in the early 1990s in pursuit of business opportunities—and succeeded. He was a co-owner of the Eurasian Financial Company, which controls Eurasian Bank and is considered one of Kazakhstan's largest financial institutions.
Mashkevich and his family obtained Israeli citizenship in the 1990s but did not settle in the country. According to The Marker, he purchased a penthouse on the Tel Aviv promenade for 110 million shekels (approximately $30 million).
In the early 2000s, Mashkevich served as president of the Eurasian Industrial Association and chaired the board of Eurasian Bank. In 2000, he initiated the establishment of the Kazakhstan Jewish Congress and became its first president.
He was also a member of the executive committee of the European Jewish Congress and served as president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC). Additionally, Mashkevich was the president of Keren Hayesod in the former Soviet Union. He held citizenship in Kazakhstan, Canada, and Israel. According to Forbes, his personal fortune was estimated at $1.5 billion in 2016.
In September 2022, Mashkevich had donated tens of millions of dollars to the construction and renovation of churches, mosques, and synagogues across Kazakhstan. Since 2008, he had supported the establishment of nearly 20 places of worship and other institutions for the country’s three major religions.
"This is not a question of money," Mashkevich said in an interview with Ynet at the time. "God gave me the opportunity to do this, so I say: Let’s take this opportunity to show the world there is no contradiction. I always invite many Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders to Kazakhstan and try to encourage dialogue and engagement with the Quran and the Torah."
In addition to funding mosques and churches, Mashkevich also built numerous synagogues. "Every Jewish community must have a place to pray, talk, and gather," he said. "A place where people can feel the heart of the community—where Jews feel at home and can find help, food, and friends. That is why a synagogue is so important in every place where there is a Jewish community."
