President Viktor Yanukovych had a very theatrical day on Nov. 17, ahead of a key Nov. 22 summit between Ukraine and the European Union at which free trade and visa-free travel will be discussed.

The occasion was the National Security and Defense Council meeting, where Yanukovych called “the crisis of the public’s confidence in the authorities” as the biggest national security threat. Over nearly 20 years of independence, the situation has not gotten any better,” Yanukovych said. “Unfortunately, it’s getting worse.”

The president also allowed a rare public scolding of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to be televised.

Mr. President, the reason why people don’t trust government is that state assets get privatized non-transparently, high-level crimes are never solved and leaders such as you are not seen as acting in the public interest.”

“And when I hear you, Mykola Yanovych [Azarov], speaking at government meetings and saying that we’ve achieved something, that everything is fine, and that everything will be fine, I’m telling you, tell the truth. Show people the graphs that you are showing me as to what is happening in the world. There’s no need to tell tale,” Yanukovych said.

All of this smacked of staged government, taking a page out of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s choreographed scoldings of subordinates.

Mr. President, the reason why people don’t trust government is that state assets get privatized non-transparently, high-level crimes are never solved and leaders such as you are not seen as acting in the public interest.

Ukrainska Pravda online news site has done a masterful job of exposing how you, Mr. President, improperly acquired a lavish mansion from the state.

You have also never been taken to task for the 2004 rigged presidential election that would have put you in power but for the Orange Revolution.

Your government is dominated by self-serving oligarchs who look upon Ukraine as a playground to be ruthlessly exploited.

If you want the nation to get a true picture of events, then Ukraine will need a robust and free news media, honest and transparent privatizations, strong public information and anti-corruption laws, a progressive tax system and an end to the legal impunity and immunity enjoyed by public officeholders.

In short, Mr. President, look in the mirror if you want to see what’s wrong with the nation.