Billionaire Jewish leader Alexander Mashkevich passes away at 72

He was the chairman of the Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and served as chairman of the board of Eurasian Bank for many years.

Mashkevich was born in Kyrgyzstan and moved to Kazakhstan in the early 1990s in search of business opportunities, eventually finding great success. In addition to his leadership in the financial sector, Mashkevich was an influential figure in the Jewish community of Kazakhstan. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Jewish Congress of Kazakhstan in 2000 and served as its president. Under his leadership, the organization worked to support and promote Jewish life in the country.

In a 2022 interview, Mashkevich emphasized the importance of providing Jewish communities with spaces to pray, gather, and connect. "Every Jewish community must have a place where they can pray, talk, and meet," he said. He was deeply committed to interfaith dialogue and played a significant role in fostering cooperation between different religious communities. Mashkevich helped fund the construction and renovation of dozens of places of worship, including synagogues, mosques, and churches, across Kazakhstan. His philanthropic efforts were aimed at creating spaces for peaceful coexistence among the country’s religious groups.

Mashkevich was a member of the Executive Board of the European Jewish Congress and served as president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC). He was also involved in numerous charitable and cultural initiatives, including supporting the establishment of Jewish schools and institutions in Kazakhstan. He held citizenship in Kazakhstan, Canada, and Israel, and was known for his efforts to support Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.

Mashkevich’s net worth was estimated at $1.5 billion by Forbes in 2016. He will be remembered not only for his business success but also for his dedication to the Jewish community and his contributions to interfaith understanding in Kazakhstan. He is survived by his wife, Larisa, and their two daughters.