Georgia-Russia: The Enemy Brides  

They may be divided by a war and an almost epic feud, but in a trend worthy of a classic Russian novel, Russians are by far Georgians' favorite foreigners to marry.

Of some 2,000 cross-border marriages in Georgia so far in 2012, almost 900 were between Georgians and Russians, according to Georgian Civil Registry data shared with EurasiaNet.org.  

In most cases (roughly 500), a Georgian is the groom and a Russian is the bride.

Surprised? You might well be.

Georgia’s 2008 diplomatic break-up with Russia went like a nasty, dish-throwing divorce that left emotional (and physical) scars, plus unresolved property disputes. To hear Tbilisi tell it, the Kremlin has since turned into a creepy stalker that just can’t let go.

In particular, of breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia, some 20 percent of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, where thousands of Russian troops are still stationed.

A recent poll indicated that some 73 percent of Georgians think that Russia poses a danger to their country.

But, apparently, those considerations take a backseat when love comes a-calling. 

After Russians, Georgian men give priority to Armenian and Ukrainian women, while Georgian women go for Turkish and Greek men.

As for Georgia's steady diplomatic love interests -- the European Union and the US -- the numbers do not even come close, according to the Civil Registry.

Only 64 Georgians (mostly women) tied the knot with Americans this year. As for Europe, Irish men and women are clearly among the least popular crowd here; only two marriages so far.