Medieval? It's what every country has been doing forever. Every spy agency on earth does this and has done this since their inception. It's practically their MO.
So... you do live in that world.
So... you do live in that world.
They don't expose the information. They keep it and use it for themselves.
Even if Assange is a Russian agent, I'd rather have him exposing things that go on than not. If he refuses to publish dirt on Russia, the leaker can go to someone else.
By making an example of him, you're just giving governments of the world more control. I can't see how you can defend this position.