This is mostly why we’re better than they are: these things sometimes get reported, and our media criticizes these actions. There’s a non-zero chance of punishing these people.
On the other side, these people are universally treated as heroes and if they’re given something, it’s medals or promotions.
But of course, we will need to actively work to maintain this superiority. It can vanish in an instant.
We might compare Assange’s treatment to how Navalny was treated. Assange is not dead and I believe he’s about to be freed. And he did actual crimes whereas Navalny’s crime was being a political opponent to Putin.
I don’t know who or what civilist was.