update:
I received several emails from support at btc-e. The first email was somewhat encouraging:

Hello! Your credentials are accepted. After checking by our finance department, your account will be unhold automatically.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION.The time of verification of documents takes 5 days. During the time of a check, questions are not accepted, and ticket will be closed automatically. We hope for your understanding.

Another email concerning my ticket ended with "thank you. Be patient. Have a nice day."

Well, I'm trying to be patient but with a ton of bitcoins on "money hold" and rumors of btc-e scamming depositors, I won't get much sleep in the days ahead!
Still, I'm hopeful that my coins will soon be "unholded" and removed to the safety of my wallet.